Other conditions decisions — 2003

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for missing front teeth, claimed as due to dental trauma (for treatment purposes), is denied. The issue of service connection for the residuals of frozen or trench feet remains pending.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for damaged teeth, finding that there was no evidence of a dental injury or disease during service and concluding that any current condition is not related to service.

The Board has determined that the veteran is competent to manage her own financial affairs for VA purposes.

The Board denied the veteran's request for a waiver of recovery of an overpayment of nonservice-connected disability pension benefits, finding that recovery was not against the principles of equity and good conscience.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a right hand laceration, finding no current disability and no evidence linking any present condition to service.

The Board found that there was no legal basis to grant an effective date earlier than October 9, 2001 for the award of service-connected cause of death benefits due to the claim not being received within one year of the veteran's death.

The veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is being remanded due to the need for further examination regarding potential negligence or fault on the part of VA treatment providers in prescribing medications that led to his atrial fibrillation. Additionally, the case is being referred back to the RO for a Statement of the Case addressing whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen service connection claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a total rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities because he declined to undergo necessary VA examinations and maintained substantially gainful employment.

The Board denied the claim for an earlier effective date for a combined 100% rating for service-connected erythema multiforme, finding that there was no evidence of increased severity within the year preceding June 13, 1996.

The Board denied the veteran's request to waive recovery of an overpayment of $10,989 in VA pension benefits due to his failure to report income sources. The decision found that the veteran had a history of inaccurate reporting and was at fault for creating the overpayment.

The veteran's right femoral nerve entrapment was present during service and is granted as service-connected. The dental trauma claim is not addressed in the decision.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including additional evaluations and tests to determine if the appellant has left ventricular dysfunction and the measurement of ejection fraction.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, finding that there was no current medical diagnosis of such a condition related to service or asbestos exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for hidradenitis suppurativa, finding that it began during active service.

The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling a VA skin examination.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current heart disorder, characterized as cardiomyopathy, is not related to his service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of her husband's death and basic eligibility for dependents' educational assistance under Chapter 35, finding that there was no evidence linking his death to any service-connected condition.

The Board found that the veteran's present respiratory disorder is not related to his service, and there was no evidence of full-body exposure to mustard gas. The claim for service connection was denied.

The veteran's claim for restoration of a 30 percent rating assigned for service-connected periodontitis is denied as he failed to report for a VA examination without good cause.

The Board found that the service-connected disabilities did not cause death or contribute substantially to it. The veteran's death was due to a ruptured abdominal aneurysm, which was not caused by VA treatment and care.