Other conditions Board decisions

The veteran's service-connected skin conditions, including actinic keratosis with basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma of the face, ears, neck, chest, back, upper and lower extremities, are rated at their maximum schedular evaluations. The effective date for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is granted prior to November 14, 1990.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his duodenal ulcer, post gastrectomy syndrome. The effective date of service connection remains May 16, 1995.

The Board has found that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for prostatitis, and thus grants the application to reopen.

The VA has determined that the veteran's osteoporosis does not warrant a compensable rating as it is currently manifested by mild spinal osteoporosis without evidence of pain or limitation of motion.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his condition and his military service.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for chronic prostatitis and increased the rating of urethral stricture to 20 percent, effective from September 1995.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his left lower and upper extremity weakness due to an intracranial hemorrhage. The RO found that the veteran's symptoms did not warrant a higher rating based on current medical evidence.

The RO denied service connection for bilateral retinal degeneration, a constitutional or developmental abnormality not considered a disability under the law and not aggravated by active military service.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for arthritis of the left sacroiliac joint, claimed as secondary to a service-connected hemorrhoidectomy. The issues of increased rating for narcolepsy and earlier effective date for service connection for narcolepsy are addressed in the Remand section.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his service-connected low back disability, finding that it only manifested as minimal spondylosis and mild disk space narrowing without significant symptoms or limitations.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain service medical records and post-service treatment records.

The Board found that $1,629 of the overpayment was not properly created and should be reduced. The remaining $7,460 is considered a valid debt. The waiver of this overpayment was granted as it would not be against equity and good conscience.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a bilateral hand disorder attributable to service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran is competent for VA purposes based on recent medical evidence indicating he can manage his affairs.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a chronic disability related to the veteran's service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected left knee disability, manifested by chondromalacia patella and patellar instability, warrants a separate 20 percent evaluation for limitation of flexion and another 20 percent evaluation for patellar instability. The current ratings are higher than what is warranted based on the evidence provided.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected GI disability warrants a 60 percent rating, effective as of the date of this decision.

The veteran died from pneumonia, sepsis, and carcinoma of the lung. Service connection was not granted for any condition as they were not related to service or a service-connected disability.

The veteran's death was caused by malnutrition, which is presumed to have been incurred in service. The Board granted service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and dismissed the claim for dependency and indemnity compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.