Other conditions decisions — 2003

The Board denied the veteran's claim for retroactive educational benefits under Chapter 30, Title 38, United States Code due to the regulations prohibiting an award of benefits prior to one year from the date of receipt of the application or enrollment certification.

The veteran's claims for service connection, increased ratings, and compensable evaluations were denied due to his failure to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected left inguinal hernia does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under the applicable diagnostic code.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's left hip disorder and remanded the issue of entitlement to a temporary total rating under 38 C.F.R. § 4.30 for left hip surgery performed on October 31, 1996.

The veteran's death was caused by non-small cell lung carcinoma, which developed many years after service. The Board found that the cancer did not have a direct link to his military service and therefore denied service connection for cause of death.

The veteran's service-connected left leg and knee muscle disability was rated at 30 percent from April 7, 1997 to July 27, 1998. Since then, the rating has been increased to 40 percent.

The Board denied service connection for gastrointestinal symptoms, abnormal weight loss, and muscle and joint pain as they are not related to active service or due to an undiagnosed illness that developed during the Persian Gulf War.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not related to any service-connected condition and denied the claim for service connection for the cause of his death.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's residuals of a shell fragment wound to the right heel, currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for herpes simplex virus, finding that there was no evidence linking this condition to his military service.

The veteran's service-connected psychosis has been rated at 50 percent since November 19, 1992.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to new and material evidence. The underlying merits of the claim will be evaluated in a separate decision.

The Board found no evidence of trigeminal neuralgia in service and denied the claim as there is insufficient medical evidence to link the condition to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right hand disability, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal prior to a decision being made.

The VA denied the appellant's claim for service connection for otitis media and a perforated right eardrum, finding that these conditions are not related to his military service.

The Board dismissed the appeal of the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to a withdrawal by the appellant.

The Board found that the appellant's improved death pension benefits were properly terminated due to her failure to report her son's income from the Social Security Administration, resulting in an overpayment. The waiver of recovery for the overpayment was denied.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder is being remanded due to the need for full due process and additional evidence.

The Board found that the appellant forfeited all rights, claims, and benefits under VA laws due to his assistance to an enemy of the United States (the Japanese-controlled Bureau of the Constabulary) and knowingly making false statements in his claim for benefits.