Other conditions decisions — 2004

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that no service-connected disability contributed to his death.

The Board has determined that the appellant cannot be recognized as the veteran's surviving spouse due to a lack of continuous cohabitation from the date of marriage until the time of the veteran's death.

The Board denied the appellant's eligibility for enrollment and access to VA medical care benefits due to his lack of a service-connected disability, failure to provide detailed financial information, and not being in an enrolled status on January 17, 2003.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder and granted service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, but did not assign any disability rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for enhanced DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1311(a)(2) because there was no evidence of a continuous period of total disability prior to his death, and thus did not meet the criteria for such benefits.

The veteran's appeal is remanded to the RO for further development, including scheduling a new medical examination and readjudicating his claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hip dysplasia, finding that it was a pre-existing condition and not aggravated by service.

The Board found that the veteran does not meet the criteria for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance of another person or being housebound.

The VA denied the appellant's request for an apportionment of her husband's compensation benefits on behalf of their minor children due to his reasonable child support and lack of financial hardship.

The Board has granted service connection for transverse myelitis manifested by flaccid paraplegia with bowel and bladder incontinence, finding that the veteran's condition is more likely than not due to a parasitic infection contracted during his service in Korea. The veteran also qualifies for the maximum special monthly compensation rate due to his need for aid and attendance.

The Board denied an extraschedular rating for residuals of a pilonidal cystectomy and did not address the effective date claim.

The veteran's death was caused by metastatic rectal cancer, which is considered a consequence of his service-connected perirectal abscesses.

The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of a bowel resection do not warrant an initial rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the evidence is insufficient to establish the presence of a recognized stressor related to service, and thus remands the case for further development.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluation of varicose veins of the left leg and service connection for varicose veins of the right leg are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information in the VA examination report and a need for further medical evaluation of the appellant's service-connected left tibia disability and osteomyelitis of the left tibia.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to bladder carcinoma, finding that it was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and did not contribute substantially or materially to his death. The claim for dependency and indemnity compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 was also denied as there was no evidence of a proximate cause related to VA care.

The veteran's additional disability from saphenous vein severance in March 1974 surgery is not supported by the evidence, and his peroneal nerve palsy with footdrop resulting from June 1981 VA surgery and/or hospital care does not meet the criteria for benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected residuals of shell fragment wound of the right arm is being remanded to obtain outstanding VA treatment records and a VA examination.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a skin rash of the buttocks and back, and left epididymitis are being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and review.