Other conditions Board decisions

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a tumor of the neck/throat and left varicocele, but denied them on the merits. The new evidence submitted does not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for periodontal disease and multiple caries, finding that there is no legal basis to grant these claims as they pertain to compensation purposes.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability, including dextroscoliosis of the dorsal spine and short right leg, is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining relevant medical records and scheduling an examination.

The Veteran's psychiatric disorder caused occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, including work, family relations, judgment, thinking and mood from October 22, 2003 to August 19, 2007. Since August 20, 2007, the disorder has caused total occupational and social impairment.

The Board's October 2010 decision on the increased rating for atrial fibrillation was vacated due to missing relevant medical records. The case is now remanded for further development and readjudication.

The Board found that the appellant's current right eye disability, manifested by decreased visual acuity and intermittent bleeding, is not causally related to his in-service right eye injuries. The Board concluded that a chronic right eye disability was not present during service or for many years thereafter.

The Board found that the Veteran's CMV infection, claimed as malaise, was not incurred in or aggravated by his active military service.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have recognized active military service for the purpose of obtaining the one-time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund, and therefore denies legal entitlement to this benefit.

The appellant requested to withdraw his appeal regarding the retroactive award and payment of Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) under Chapter 35, United States Code, prior to May 19, 2006.

The Board found that the Veteran's need for hysterectomy and left oopherectomy was not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence linking these procedures to any incident during her military service.

The Veteran's service-connected abdominal muscle strain, status post thoracolumbar laminectomy, is manifested by no more than slight disability and does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a current right hip disability, which he claims was incurred during military service. The Board has determined that an additional VA examination and medical opinion are necessary to address the etiology of his claimed condition.

The Veteran's pilonidal cyst, which at times becomes abscessed, is rated as a superficial scar with pain. The Board granted an initial compensable rating of 10% for this condition.

The Board finds that the appellant's pre-existing bilateral eye disorder, to include chorioretinitis and blindness, was not aggravated by his military service, and such may not be presumed.

The Veteran's left lower extremity disability, including wound infections and osteomyelitis, is not considered to be the result of VA negligence or fault during his treatment from November 2005 to May 2006.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for nerve damage, including an injury to the right trigeminal nerve, is denied as there is no current disability and the evidence does not support a finding of continuity of symptomatology.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of July 1, 2003 for a 10 percent rating for residuals of left ring finger proximal phalanx condylar fracture.

The Veteran's service-connected herniated nucleus pulposus, L5-S1, is currently rated at 20 percent and meets the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board found no evidence of current right hand nerve damage or right leg weakness related to service. The Veteran's complaints were not supported by medical records and examination findings.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have residuals of a right groin injury and therefore denies his claim for service connection.