Other conditions decisions — 2002

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a pilonidal cyst in March 1979, finding no evidence of the disorder during active military service. The decision is final. New evidence submitted since then does not provide sufficient new and material evidence to reopen the claim.

The Board finds that the veteran's current chronic atrial fibrillation is a residual of his in-service scarlet fever and grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's annual income of $27,996 exceeds the maximum limit set by law for a veteran with no dependents. The RO determined that expenses paid to the Indiana Veterans' Home could not be excluded from his countable income, leading to the denial of nonservice-connected pension benefits.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral vision disorder cannot be reopened because no new and material evidence was submitted to support his claim.

The veteran's diabetes mellitus, with its complications, was found to have increased in severity within a year of his active service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has granted a waiver of recovery for the overpayment of VA dependency and indemnity compensation benefits in the amount of $10,000.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim for revocation of forfeiture of VA benefits and determined that she forfeited all rights, claims, and benefits under all laws administered by VA (except insurance benefits).

The Board found that the cause of death, cholangiocarcinoma, was not caused or contributed to by any service-connected disability. The veteran's exposure to herbicides or ionizing radiation in service is also unknown.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right leg cramps and an increased rating for residuals of a fracture of the right fibula, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or service-connected disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a stroke as there was no medical evidence of current disability related to a stroke.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for fatigue, finding no evidence of a chronic disability manifested by fatigue in service or at any time thereafter.

The Board has determined that the veteran incurred cold injury to his feet in service and grants service connection for the residuals of this condition.

The veteran's claim for VA outpatient dental treatment is granted as he meets the eligibility criteria under the current regulations.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to May 14, 1998 for a 30 percent rating for status post fistulectomy, finding that entitlement to this rating did not arise until May 14, 1998.

The veteran's Charcot-Marie Tooth syndrome has worsened, resulting in muscle atrophy and decreased sensation in her lower extremities. The Board granted a higher rating of 60 percent based on the severity of these symptoms.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for residuals of acute poliomyelitis is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development.

The Board finds that the veteran's periodontal disease, which developed during service and has persisted since then, meets the requirements for one-time VA dental treatment. The appeal is granted in this limited context.

The Board found that the veteran's osteomyelitis was not due to carelessness, negligence or any other fault on the part of VA. The event (the bunionectomy) was reasonably foreseeable as a possible complication given his history of diabetes.

The appellant's service ended in April 1946, and as a result, he does not meet the basic eligibility requirements for nonservice-connected disability pension benefits.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for recognition as the veteran's spouse for purposes of determining eligibility for VA death and indemnity compensation (DIC) benefits due to her legal divorce from the veteran prior to his death.