The Veteran's seborrheic dermatitis has been rated at 10 percent since November 27, 2008. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as the condition affects greater than five percent but less than 20 percent of exposed areas and no systemic therapy was indicated.,The Veteran's hiatal hernia with esophageal reflux and epigastric pain has been rated at 30 percent since November 27, 2008. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as the condition manifests persistently recurrent epigastric distress with dysphagia, heartburn, arm pain, nausea, vomiting and digestive pain.,The Veteran's bronchitis is considered part of his already service-connected COPD and thus cannot be rated separately. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as the condition does not meet the criteria for a separate disability.,There is no evidence of chronic pneumonia at any point during the pendency of this appeal. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as there is no indication of such an issue.,Hyperlipidemia was not considered a service-connected disability and thus cannot be rated. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as hyperlipidemia is merely a laboratory finding.,The Veteran's hypertension has been rated at 10 percent since November 27, 2008. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as there is no evidence of such an issue attributable to service or service-connected disease.,The Veteran does not have a gastrointestinal disability other than hiatal hernia with esophageal reflux and epigastric pain attributable to service. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as the condition has been rated at 30 percent since November 27, 2008.,Allergic broncho-pulmonary aspergillosis was not considered a service-connected disability and thus cannot be rated. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as there is no evidence of such an issue attributable to service or service-connected disease.,The May 1976 decision denying entitlement to service connection for plantar warts did not contain an outcome determinative error in applying the law extant at that time to the facts that were before the adjudicator. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as there was no evidence of such an issue attributable to service or service-connected disease.,The May 1976 decision denying entitlement to service connection for varicose veins did not contain an outcome determinative error in applying the law extant at that time to the facts that were before the adjudicator. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as there was no evidence of such an issue attributable to service or service-connected disease.,The May 1976 decision denying a rating in excess of 10 percent for asthma did not contain an outcome determinative error in applying the law extant at that time to the facts that were before the adjudicator. The Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as there was no evidence of such an issue attributable to service or service-connected disease.

The deciding factor: The Veteran's conditions do not meet the criteria for a separate disability rating and are rated based on their severity.

Claimed conditions

seborrheic dermatitis, hiatal hernia with esophageal reflux and epigastric pain, asthma with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), bilateral hearing loss, hiatal hernia with gastroesophageal reflux and epigastric pain

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

March 26, 2015

Citation

1512863

This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 1512863.