Other conditions decisions — 2013

The Veteran's sinus condition is found to have begun in service and has been continuously manifested since then. The Veteran's PTSD, from the effective date of the grant of service connection, is currently rated at 50 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for bilateral loss of vision, including a request for new and material evidence. The Veteran's unauthorized absence from duty may impact this decision.

The Veteran is not competent to handle disbursement of funds for Department of Veterans Affairs benefit purposes due to his cognitive impairment.

The Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for additional compensation for dependent children and reimbursement of supplies purchased under Chapter 31, Title 38, United States Code was denied as the facts are not in dispute.,The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of $42.76 in supplies was also denied due to his VR&C case manager's determination that they were unnecessary.

The Veteran's residuals of a right index finger laceration do not meet the criteria for a compensable initial evaluation as his scars are not tender or unstable, and do not limit motion or extension.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of left lower extremity peripheral vascular disease before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of education benefits under Chapter 30, Title 38, United States Code was denied because the claims were not filed within one year prior to the date of the application.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a skin disorder, to include porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT), due to Agent Orange exposure. The evidence received since the final denial in April 1997 is supportive of this claim.

The Board finds that the Veteran's myoclonus is not related to his active service, including as due to herbicide exposure. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's arterial vascular occlusive disease of the lower extremities is aggravated by his service-connected hypertension, and therefore, he is granted service connection for this condition.

The Board granted a 60 percent schedular rating for service-connected sacralization and spondylosis at L5, effective from November 14, 1988, through June 28, 2006. The Veteran also met the criteria for TDIU as of January 10, 1991.

The Veteran's varicose veins, right and left lower extremities have been rated at 100 percent effective March 19, 2009.

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected genital herpes prior to September 20, 2007.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a disorder causing bilateral ear pain and left ear hearing loss disability were denied. The Board found no current diagnosed disorders other than temporomandibular joint syndrome, which is already in effect, causing the claimed symptoms. For stomach disorder claim, there was insufficient evidence to establish a relationship with service. Right hip disabilities received higher ratings as requested.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral pes cavus with hammertoes is a congenital defect and not caused or aggravated by his service-connected painful calluses and metatarsalgia, thus denying the claim for service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and examination, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is being remanded due to the need for a VA medical opinion regarding whether the July 2003 VA eye surgery caused his current loss of vision in the right eye.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral eye disorder is not related to his active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for left leg varicose veins, left knee impairment (recurrent subluxation), and left knee degenerative changes with limitation of motion were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for left leg varicose veins.

The Veteran's esophageal cancer was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and its incurrence or aggravation may not be presumed. The claim for increased PTSD rating is denied, as the evidence does not support a finding of total occupational and social impairment due to treatment for esophagus cancer.