Other conditions Board decisions

The Board finds that the Veteran's current left lower extremity weakness and pain are not caused by VA hospital care, medical or surgical treatment, or examination. The evidence does not support a finding of actual causation.

The Veteran did not file a claim for the benefit in question prior to his death, and therefore does not meet the basic eligibility requirements for a one-time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund. The appellant is denied legal entitlement.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of basic eligibility for VA disability benefits, thus granting the appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of left varicocele surgery are not shown to warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent. The Board finds no evidence of recurrent symptomatic infection requiring drainage or frequent hospitalization, and the disability does not cause poor renal function.

The Veteran's left middle finger disability was granted a 10 percent rating, effective from November 5, 2003. The Veteran's right and left foot disabilities were denied an increased rating.

The Veteran's pre-existing bilateral eye disability with pterygium was aggravated by service beyond the natural progress of the disease, and therefore service connection is granted.

The Veteran's lung disability, including pleural plaques, was not shown to be causally related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of narcolepsy is related to his active duty service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of his VA treatment records and SSA disability benefits determination. The case will be readjudicated after securing the additional evidence.

The Veteran's claim was partially granted, with a 30 percent disability rating for neurological impairment of the left lower extremity effective September 11, 2007. The earlier effective date claim is pending and will be decided separately.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's systemic sclerosis is related to his service, specifically cold exposure and in-service chemical exposures. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's ulcerative colitis manifested during his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran does not have a current disability of the eyes, to include blepharitis. The Board finds that service connection is not warranted.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for residuals of a low back injury, finding that the character of discharge from military service did not constitute a bar to VA benefits.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development to determine if the Veteran has muscle damage from his surgeries and a gastrointestinal disorder related to service.

The Veteran's left knee disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling, effective from February 8, 2008. The Board finds that the evidence supports a finding of slight impairment due to patellofemoral syndrome.

The Veteran's right Achilles tendonitis is currently rated at 20 percent, the maximum available under Diagnostic Code 5271. The Board has granted service connection for secondary right hip, knee, and low back disabilities due to the service-connected Achilles tendonitis.

The Board finds that the reduction of VA compensation benefits based on removal of the Veteran's wife as a dependent was proper, effective September 1, 2004.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for schizoaffective disorder. However, the Board finds that the Veteran does not meet the criteria for service connection as his current condition is not causally related to his active service.

The Board denied the Veteran's service connection claims for residuals of a fractured coccyx and reopening of his pilonidal cyst claim, finding no evidence linking any condition to service.