Other conditions Board decisions

The RO denied a compensable rating for the veteran's laceration of the right forearm.

The Board has determined that the veteran died of congestive heart failure, which was not related to service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for the cause of death is denied.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized private medical expenses incurred in May 1998 and June 1998, stating that a VA facility was readily available but the veteran refused transfer.

The veteran's post cerebral concussion syndrome is currently rated at 30 percent and the claim for an increased rating has been denied.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected right hip disability, which includes trochanteric bursitis and sacroiliitis. The RO found that the veteran's range of motion was limited to 45 degrees.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left varicocele existed prior to his military service and did not undergo a permanent increase in severity during service. The VA examiner concluded that any post-service symptoms were self-limiting and unrelated to the inservice surgery.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development to determine if the veteran's frequent urinary incontinence and loss of balance are related to VA surgery performed in June 1986 and March 1991, respectively.

The VA denied an initial compensable rating for residuals of fracture of the fifth toe of the left foot, finding no evidence of moderate to severe foot injuries or actual loss of use of the left foot.

The Board has determined that the veteran's endometriosis is service-connected, as it was diagnosed during service and linked to the stresses of military training.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence and procedural issues, including a recent Federal Circuit Court decision invalidating certain regulations. The RO must now consider whether the appellant's character of discharge constitutes a bar to VA benefits based on all available evidence.

The Board determined that the appellant's bad conduct discharge from military service is a bar to VA benefits, including health care and related benefits authorized under Chapter 17 of Title 38, United States Code.

The VA denied the appellant's claim to recognize him as a veteran for VA benefits purposes, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted since the previous denial in July 1997.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cataracts are proximately due to, or the result of, the administration of steroids for treatment of his service-connected Crohn's disease.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected post traumatic stress disorder.

The veteran seeks an earlier effective date for service connection due to a claim of clear and unmistakable error in the March 1998 rating decision. The Board found that the evidence was not sufficient at that time to grant service connection, and thus denied the appeal.

The Board has determined that the appellant did not file a timely and adequate substantive appeal regarding his claim of service connection for a sinus disorder, thus dismissing the claim.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for prostatitis, status post-TURP was denied as he does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under either the old or new VA rating criteria.

The veteran's appeal for a higher initial evaluation, in excess of 10 percent, for residuals of a hiatal hernia has been dismissed due to the death of the veteran during the pendency of his appeal.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected spondylolisthesis at L5-S1 with a herniated nucleus pulposus does not warrant an initial disability rating greater than 20 percent.

The Board found that the veteran's current diagnosis of anxiety is not related to his service-connected left middle finger disability and denied his claim for secondary service connection.