Other conditions Board decisions

The Board has granted an increased rating for pelvic inflammatory disease to 30 percent, effective from the date of the decision. The veteran's status post hysterectomy remains at a 30 percent rating.

The Board has determined that none of the veteran's conditions were incurred or aggravated by service, and thus denied all claims for service connection. The cause of death was attributed to pulmonary fibrosis and ischemic cardiomyopathy, which are not considered service-connected.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims of service connection for a chronic dental disorder shown as gingivitis and for a higher rating for a left foot disability due to new regulations regarding dental conditions and incomplete development.

The veteran's unauthorized private inpatient hospitalization from February 16, 1998, through March 13, 1998 was denied as the admission did not meet the criteria for reimbursement due to lack of prior authorization and no medical emergency existed.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for both service connection and compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 due to a lack of competent evidence linking the vancomycin-resistant enterococcal infection to his service-connected right knee replacement.

The veteran's claim for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes was denied by the RO. The case is being returned to the Board for further development.

The veteran's service-connected ITP has not resulted in a stable platelet count below 100,000. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right hand disorder is secondary to his service-connected left-hand disability and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for nicotine addiction and a disability manifested by swelling in the throat, coughing, getting tired easily, and difficulty breathing were not well grounded. The evidence did not show these conditions were incurred or aggravated during service.

The veteran's claim for benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for right eye blindness is denied as not well grounded due to the lack of medical evidence linking his current condition to VA hospitalization, medical or surgical treatment.

The veteran's appeal was denied for an original evaluation in excess of 20 percent for residuals of a separation of the right acromioclavicular joint. Service connection and evaluations were granted for tinnitus (10%) and diverticulosis (noncompensable).

The Board has determined that the veteran's current sexual dysfunction is related to impotence he experienced during service, and thus grants service connection for impotence.

The veteran died of squamous cell carcinoma. The Board found no evidence linking the cancer to his service, including exposure to Agent Orange. Therefore, the claim for service connection for the cause of death was denied as not well grounded. Additionally, the appellant did not meet the requirements for Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits.

The veteran's claims for higher ratings for his hip and back conditions have been granted, with a 10 percent evaluation assigned to each hip condition and a noncompensable evaluation for the thoracic spine strain and lumbosacral strain.

The veteran's anal trauma resulting from a VA medical treatment in April 1998 is found to be the result of negligence or lack of proper skill on VA's part, and compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is granted.

The veteran's failure to report his spouse's income led to an overpayment of improved disability pension benefits. The Board found that the veteran had fault in creating this overpayment and denied waiver of recovery due to lack of bad faith, but concluded it would be against equity and good conscience to require repayment.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 due to a fracture of the right little finger (5th metacarpal) resulting from treatment at a VA facility, finding no additional disability as a result of such treatment.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination and readjudication of his claim.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a right femur fracture, neck injury, and excision of a birthmark from the right posterior neck due to lack of evidence supporting direct service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death due to pancreatic cancer, finding that there was no evidence linking it to service or exposure to herbicides.