Other conditions decisions — 2017

The Board has determined that the Veteran's residuals of an ophthalmic stroke of the left eye are not service-connected and is denied. The acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Veteran's claim for a temporary total evaluation based on treatment for his service-connected left quadriceps tendon rupture was denied as the condition was not service-connected at the time of surgery.

The Veteran's idiopathic thrombocarpurpa was not linked to herbicide exposure during active service or otherwise linked to disease or injury incurred or aggravated in active service, and was not caused or aggravated by service-connected coronary artery disease (CAD).

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU due to lack of service-connected disability, as he has not been granted service connection for any disability.

The Veteran's uterine fibroids are not considered to be service-connected as they first manifested after discharge from service and were resolved by a post-service hysterectomy. The in-service gynecological symptoms of heavy menses with cramping do not establish a direct link to the current condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's heart disorder, including supraventricular arrhythmia, sick sinus syndrome, and implanted cardiac pacemaker, was not caused by his service-connected diabetes mellitus or presumed in-service herbicide exposure. The examiner opined that these conditions were due to the Veteran's aging and hypertension.

The Board found no link between the Veteran's in-service spontaneous pneumothorax and his current diagnoses of COPD with emphysema and asthma, thus denying service connection for a pulmonary condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chest pain is due to an undiagnosed illness and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's radiculitis of the left and right lower extremities, at least moderate in severity, is rated as 20 percent disabling since October 30, 2003. Effective June 5, 2012, he was granted a separate compensable rating for bladder impairment associated with residuals of compression fractures of the L1 and L2 vertebrae. The Board also found that his service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable as of June 5, 2012.

The Board found that the Veteran's skin condition, diagnosed as notalgia paresthetica with mild lichen simplex chronicus, is not related to his military service or exposure to herbicide agents. Therefore, he does not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right-sided chest pain and neuralgia are not compensable under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or similar instance of fault on the part of VA medical facility. The Veteran does not have any service-connected disabilities for TDIU purposes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current respiratory condition, including restrictive lung disease, is at least as likely as not related to his in-service asbestos exposure and grants service connection for this disability.

The Veteran's malaria was deemed inactive and resolved during the appeal period, with no relapses or residuals reported. The Board found that there were no malarial parasites in his blood as evidenced by negative malarial smear results.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the earlier effective date for nonservice-connected pension.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of a left ovarian cyst removal and for hysterectomy with salpingo-oophorectomy, finding that there is no evidence showing current disabilities related to these surgeries. The preponderance of the evidence does not support the Veteran's assertions.

The Veteran's mood disorder is rated at 70 percent since February 13, 2006 and a TDIU is granted from that date to June 14, 2013.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for porphyria has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board has granted a separate disability rating of 20 percent for the Veteran's left knee disability based on semilunar cartilage symptoms, finding that his semilunar cartilage symptoms more closely approximate the criteria for a disability rating of 20 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to a scheduling issue for a video-conference hearing. The Veteran's claims for service connection and reopening of her pes planus claim are pending.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the Veteran's personality disorder and its relationship to service. The case will be returned for further development.