Other conditions decisions — 2002

The Board found no current diagnosis of residuals of frozen feet and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board denied a higher evaluation for the veteran's service-connected post-operative residuals of removal of pterygium in both eyes, finding that the evidence did not meet the schedular criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the claim for service connection for squamous cell carcinoma due to exposure to ionizing radiation needs further development and is being remanded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current findings of scarring in the lungs are related to pneumonia he had during service, and thus grants service connection for residuals of pneumonia.

The VA determined that the veteran's bilateral hip disability, characterized by chronic pain and degenerative changes, does not warrant a rating higher than the current 20 percent.

The Board denied the appellant's claim as her late husband had no valid service in the United States Armed Forces, thus denying her eligibility for VA benefits.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for the appellant's service-connected paroxysmal dystonic choreoathetosis, currently rated at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right elbow disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral hip pain, which began during active service, has since resolved and no current disability exists to support a claim for service connection.

The Board found that the veteran does not currently suffer from a dental disability and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected varicose veins and residuals of head injuries were denied. The RO found that the veteran did not meet the criteria for higher ratings at any time during the periods specified.

The Board found that the veteran's pre-existing right arm scars did not increase in severity during service and there is no medical evidence of cuts to the right side of the face or chin. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's request for waiver of recovery of an overpayment of additional disability compensation benefits in the amount of $594, finding fault with the veteran's failure to promptly report his daughter's graduation from college and concluding that there was no fault on the part of VA. The decision also noted that recovery would not result in undue hardship or financial detriment.

The VA determined that the veteran's drug-induced thrombocytopenia, which was resolved in 1989 and has been stable since then without requiring treatment or causing bleeding, does not warrant an increased disability rating.

The Board found that the appellant is not the surviving spouse of the veteran for VA death benefits purposes due to a lack of continuous cohabitation from the time of any attempted common law marriage until his death.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for stomach cancer, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated by active service and did not manifest to a degree of 10 percent within one year of discharge.

The Board found that Buerger's Disease was not incurred in or aggravated by service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein.

The VA has determined that the veteran's varicose veins of the right lower extremity do not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent, as they cause intermittent leg pain and cramping but no persistent edema.

The Board finds that the veteran's skin cancer of the face, hands, back, and left ear is a result of sun exposure during service and grants service connection for these conditions on a direct basis.

The Board denied the appellant's request for a waiver of overpayment of death pension benefits, finding that her actions constituted bad faith and thus waived recovery was precluded.