Other conditions decisions — 2003

The Board has received notification that the appellant wishes to withdraw their appeal, and thus the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has decided that the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to October 15, 1998 for the grant of service connection for a voice disorder with chronic laryngitis and mild bowing of the vocal cords is granted.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection due to new and material evidence, including medical records of his current eye conditions. The Board is now required to determine if it is at least as likely as not that the veteran's current bilateral eye disability is related to his active duty service.

The Board found that the veteran does not have current malaria or its residuals, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is required and the case is remanded for further action.

The Board found no indication of fraud, misrepresentation or bad faith in the appellant's case and granted her waiver of overpayment of VA death pension benefits.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current right hip disability is related to his in-service injury, and thus service connection for residuals of a right hip injury is granted.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the appellant's use of prescribed Lisinopril with any additional disability, and thus denied his claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board has ordered further development due to the need for additional evidence. The case is now being sent back to the RO for the requested development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected residuals of pelvic fractures was denied by the RO. The VA examiner found no findings related to the in-service injury other than some calcification near the right ischium.

The veteran's claim for a nonservice-connected disability pension was denied as he did not meet the basic eligibility requirement due to his sole period of active duty not beginning or ending during a period of war.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the anterior floor of the mouth, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated by his military service, including exposure to herbicides. The cancer was not shown during service and is not presumed due to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board found that the appellant was at fault in creating an overpayment of pension benefits and denied a waiver request.

The Board found that the veteran does not have residuals of a gunshot wound, right lower leg attributable to military service or any incident of active duty.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left forearm/elbow disability does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 30 percent, as his flexion is limited to approximately 100 degrees and extension is within normal limits. The RO previously assigned a 20% rating based on limitation of motion.

The VA has determined that the veteran's postoperative residuals of a pilonidal cyst do not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Board has found new and material evidence to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for disability of the right leg. The VA primary care physician provided an opinion suggesting that the veteran's current right leg condition is related to a shrapnel wound incurred during his military service.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for VA death benefits as her deceased spouse did not have recognized military service in the Armed Forces of the United States.

The veteran withdrew his appeal to reopen his previously denied claim for entitlement to service connection for a skin disorder associated with exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board granted an increased rating of 20 percent for the veteran's rheumatological disorder consistent with lupus, effective October 2000. The claim for a higher rating for carpal tunnel syndrome was partially granted, with a 10 percent rating assigned since December 13, 2002, and no compensable rating before that date.