Other conditions decisions — 2004

The Board found that the appellant is not entitled to service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to her remarriage, and thus denied the claim. The appeal was also dismissed as it pertained to Dependents' Educational Assistance.

The VA denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of her husband's death due to exposure to herbicides and basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA). The VA found no positive association between exposure to Agent Orange and any other condition, thus denying presumptive service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic and recurrent gastrointestinal and skin conditions are service-connected, with all reasonable doubt resolved in his favor.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected chondromalacia of both knees warrants a 10 percent evaluation each, based on painful motion. The preponderance of evidence does not support higher evaluations under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to failure to report for scheduled VA examinations and hearing. The case will be readjudicated based on the provided information.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling examinations to address the existence of right arm and right leg neurological disorders and the appropriate evaluation for his service-connected lumbar spine disability.

The veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected right inguinal hernia with nerve entrapment is being remanded due to failure to comply with VCAA notice and duty-to-assist provisions.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his conversion reaction disability is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional treatment records.

The Board has granted a higher initial disability evaluation of 60 percent for the veteran's service-connected left inguinal hernia, effective from February 23, 1999.

The Board has remanded the case due to a need for additional development and notification under the VCAA.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating of his intervertebral disc syndrome (IVDS) was denied. Service connection for arthritis of the left hip and hypertension and stroke as secondary to IVDS were also denied.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the veteran's death was caused by service-connected conditions or due to other causes. The VA will conduct a medical opinion and review the claims folder.

The Board denied reopening the appellant's claim of basic eligibility for VA benefits because no new and material evidence was submitted, despite previous claims of service with USAFFE.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing and clarifying the appellant's choice of representatives.

The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of a fractured left fibula meet the criteria for a disability evaluation of 20 percent, effective August 19, 2003.

The veteran's bilateral metatarsalgia, diagnosed since May 21, 2002, warrants a 20 percent evaluation on an extraschedular basis.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for basic eligibility for educational benefits under Chapter 30, Title 38, United States Code.

The Board has granted an initial 50 percent evaluation for the veteran's dysthymic disorder, effective March 2, 2001.

The veteran died of heart failure due to myocardial infarction. At the time of his death, he was receiving a combined 60% disability rating for service-connected conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's death was due to his own willful misconduct, specifically playing Russian roulette and shooting himself with a loaded gun while intoxicated.