Other conditions Board decisions

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease, finding no evidence of a direct relationship to his active duty service and insufficient medical opinion linking it to nicotine dependence/tobacco use during service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's postoperative right ear mastoid problems are related to his service and grants entitlement to service connection.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of August 1, 1988 for the award of dependency and indemnity compensation benefits due to the appellant's timely filing of a claim with Social Security Administration on behalf of her child.

The veteran's service-connected PTSD was the primary reason for his hospitalization from March 27 to May 5, 2000. His right shoulder injury with fracture and muscle damage resulted in a temporary total rating based on VA hospitalization. The current disability evaluation of 40 percent for residuals of shell fragment wounds to Muscle Group VI, right, with fracture of the right humerus is upheld.

The veteran's treatment at a private hospital on February 21, 1997 was not authorized by VA and the veteran contacted VA more than 72 hours after admission. As he had no service-connected disabilities at that time, his claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a bilateral leg injury, finding that his current condition was not related to an in-service injury and is more likely due to fibromyalgia.

The VA determined that the veteran's right upper extremity disability, characterized by peripheral neuritis and mild fasciitis, does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board found that the veteran's neck disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board finds that the veteran does not have a current dental disability resulting from service, and there is insufficient evidence to substantiate his claim for service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for a disorder manifested by umbilical drainage and an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for dyshidrosis of the hands. The evidence does not support the existence of current disability for either condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU, finding that the criteria were not met.

The Board denied a higher rating for the veteran's service-connected prostate cancer, evaluating it at 40 percent since November 8, 2000. The issue of service connection for a low back disorder will be addressed in a later decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a skin condition, hearing loss, and residuals of a ruptured right ear drum due to lack of evidence showing a current disability or that any such disabilities were incurred in service.

The veteran's service-connected left arm disability is rated at 60 percent and prevents him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, thus meeting the criteria for a TDIU.

The veteran's claim for waiver of recovery of an overpayment of nonservice-connected pension benefits was granted, as the Committee found that there was no indication of fraud, misrepresentation or bad faith on his part.

The VA denied an increased rating for a ruptured right quadriceps, currently rated at 30 percent.

The Board denied service connection for agoraphobia and determined that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim for residuals of pneumonia.,The veteran's current psychiatric disability, including a panic disorder with agoraphobia, is not shown to be related to any event or occurrence on active duty service.

The Board found that there is no evidence of an increase in disability prior to January 19, 1999 for the earlier effective date claims. For the 30% rating claims, the earliest date on which it was factually ascertainable that the veteran's cold injury residuals warranted a 30% evaluation was April 23, 2001.

The VA has determined that the appellant's service-connected allergic conjunctivitis, currently rated at 10 percent, does not warrant a higher rating since December 11, 1998.

The Board granted a 10 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected basal cell carcinomas of the face and neck, but denied a compensable rating for his scar below the right eye as a residual of an excision of a basal cell carcinoma.