Other conditions decisions — 2002

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a left hip and buttock disorder, to include disfigurement of the buttock, during or after service. As such, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied the appellant's claim that his character of discharge from service between March 23, 1980 and July 30, 1982 is not a bar to VA benefits except health care.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of an injury to the upper back and neck, finding that there was no evidence linking current conditions to service.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that amyloidosis was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not presumed to be related to exposure to herbicide agents or ionizing radiation. The appellant failed to provide sufficient evidence to establish a direct link between her husband's service-connected disabilities and his cause of death.

The Board has granted a higher rating of 40 percent for the veteran's service-connected undiagnosed musculoskeletal disease, which is rated by analogy to fibromyalgia.

The veteran's income exceeded the maximum annual pension rate (MAPR) for a married veteran with two children, resulting in denial of his claim for non-service-connected disability pension.

The Board finds that the veteran's left foot arthritis was initially manifested in service and is therefore granted service connection. The claim for multiple joint arthritis is denied as there is no competent medical evidence of a current systemic arthritic disability involving multiple joints.

The Board denied the appellant's request for waiver of recovery of an overpayment of Section 306 pension benefits in the amount of $7,623. The RO's Committee on Waivers and Compromises initially denied her request in July 1993, finding that she was at fault for not reporting all her income.

The Board denied the claim for an effective date earlier than October 22, 1989, for a 30 percent rating for vitiligo of the face, arms and legs.

The Board found that the veteran's genitourinary disabilities were not incurred in or related to his active duty service, and thus denied his claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a coccygeal disability other than a pilonidal cyst, finding that he did not sustain a fracture of the coccyx or any other coccygeal disorders during service.

The Board found that the veteran's symptoms, including shortness of breath, joint pain, mood swings, insomnia, fatigue, memory loss, and dizziness, were attributable to known clinical diagnoses rather than an undiagnosed illness. Therefore, service connection was denied for all claims.

The VA's decision grants dependency and indemnity compensation benefits for the cause of the veteran's death under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151, as it existed before October 1, 1997, due to an infection acquired in connection with a surgical liver biopsy performed by VA.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to a malignant lymphoma that was not linked to his military service or exposure to herbicides. The underlying cause of death, which is also non-service connected, does not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection under VA regulations.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for malaria and colon disease including diverticulitis, finding no current evidence of these conditions or their onset during service.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for each of the veteran's service-connected right and left foot disabilities, which are rated under Diagnostic Code 5284 (other injuries of the foot).

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions are not related to his service and have therefore denied his claims for service connection.

The veteran's appeal for an increased disability evaluation for his service-connected residuals of spontaneous pneumothorax was dismissed due to the withdrawal of the appeal by the veteran and his representative.

The veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred for a myocardial infarction in May 1996 are approved as the treatment was rendered due to an emergent condition and no VA facilities were available.

The veteran's service connection for penile chancroid and lymphogranuloma venereum was denied. However, his hepatitis B and C received a rating of 10% from January 26, 1996 through November 17, 1997.