Other conditions decisions — 2004

The Board determined that the appellant did not have active military service and therefore, was not eligible for VA benefits. The claim is denied.

The Board has dismissed the appeal because the veteran died during the pendency of the appeal and thus, the Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Board has granted an increased rating for the veteran's peptic ulcer disease from 10 percent to 20 percent.

The Board granted service connection for porphyria cutanea tarda and assigned a 30 percent disability evaluation, effective January 3, 2003. The veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent was denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records.

The appellant's claim is denied as he had no qualifying service in the Armed Forces of the United States and therefore is not eligible for VA benefits.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for basic eligibility for VA nonservice-connected pension benefits due to a lack of recognized active military service.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining his VA vocational rehabilitation folder and clinical records from a private psychologist. He will also be scheduled for an examination to assess the severity of his service-connected dysthymic disorder.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's esophageal adenocarcinoma to his service or any service-connected disability, and denied service connection for the cause of death.

The Board found that the veteran's income was excessive for VA improved pension benefits, as his countable annual income exceeded the maximum allowable rate of $9,690 per year.

The veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of adenocarcinoma of the lung, status-post right lower lobe resection is being remanded due to incomplete development and notification issues.

The Board found that the veteran's erectile dysfunction is not proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected prostatitis or schizoaffective disorder, and thus denied entitlement to special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of death due to dissecting aortic aneurysm, finding that neither the service-connected PTSD nor any other condition caused or contributed substantially to the veteran's death.

The Board found that the veteran's spouse is not in need of regular aid and attendance or housebound, as she can perform daily activities independently.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development due to additional evidence received by the appellant.

The Board found that the appellant's hand disabilities, including fractures and traumatic arthritis, do not warrant a disability evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Board finds that the reduction in the veteran's disability evaluation from 40% to 30% was proper, and denies his claim for an increased evaluation of his right eye disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of gall bladder surgery as there was no evidence to support that the surgery occurred during his active duty or a period of active duty training.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected conditions did not cause or contribute to his death from a dissecting aortic aneurism.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current chronic hip disorder separate and distinct from his service-connected fibromyalgia, thus denying service connection for right and left hip disorders.