Other conditions decisions — 2003

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's currently diagnosed peripheral vascular disease to his service or any incident therein, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board found no service connection for the cause of death due to service-connected disabilities, and denied DIC benefits based on the veteran's total disability rating.

The Board denied the appellant's waiver request for an overpayment of educational assistance benefits, finding that she was at fault in creating the debt and that repayment would not be against equity and good conscience.

The Board granted the appellant's claims for service connection on a secondary basis for gallbladder disability and an increased rating for duodenal ulcer disability with subtotal gastrectomy, both for purposes of accrued benefits. The cause of the veteran's death was not addressed as it is not related to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a respiratory condition and bone deterioration, both secondary to exposure to Agent Orange. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were caused by service or herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that his fatal lymphoma was not caused or contributed to by any service-connected disabilities.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected muscle disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation under any applicable Diagnostic Code, and thus denied his claim for an increased rating.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including consideration of new VA examination results and Social Security Administration records. The veteran's claim for service connection for a stomach disorder and whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen his acquired psychiatric disorder will be reconsidered.

The appeal has been dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal of the appeal prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has ordered additional development and the case is being remanded to the RO for further consideration of the service connection claim for a left hand disorder.

The Board has ordered the RO to obtain the veteran's terminal hospital record and arrange for a medical opinion regarding his cardiac disorder and death. The appeal is now in remanded status.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which is a presumptive disease associated with exposure to Agent Orange, contributed to his death from overwhelming pneumonia.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development due to recent court rulings, and will not make a decision on the merits at this time.

The veteran's VA improved pension benefits were reduced effective January 1, 1998 due to his receipt of Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits. The Board found that the reduction was proper based on the law and regulations regarding income-based pensions.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for accrued benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for residuals of the placement of a pacemaker, finding that there was no evidence indicating additional disability incurred as a result of VA treatment.

The veteran's appeal was denied as his claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for osteochondroma of the right elbow remains unsuccessful.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The veteran's death during the appeal process means that the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of her appeal.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim and determined that new evidence supports a finding of service connection for duodenal ulcer disease, as it was not related to enterocolitis in service.