Other conditions decisions — 2005

The veteran's claim for educational assistance benefits under Chapter 30, Title 38, United States Code was denied as he did not meet the eligibility criteria for such benefits.

The Board has granted service connection for dysthymia and a TDIU, effective September 4, 1992. The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for dysthymia was previously denied in September 1987 but reopened due to new evidence submitted by the veteran on February 9, 1989.

The veteran's death was not caused by his own willful misconduct, and he was in receipt of compensation for service-connected disability that was continuously rated totally disabling for a period of 10 or more years immediately preceding death. Therefore, the claim for DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's postoperative residuals of foreign body granuloma, right index finger do not warrant a compensable disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case for further action, including scheduling a videoconference hearing.

The veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private facility on January 8, 2004 is being remanded due to the need for additional notice and scheduling of a hearing.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have active malaria or any residuals due to prior episodes of malaria, and thus, a compensable rating for malaria is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's circulatory disorder of the lower extremities was not incurred or aggravated by service, and is not related to his service-connected low back disability. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected urticaria is exceptionally repugnant during severe outbreaks, warranting an initial schedular rating of 50 percent.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied, while the claim of CUE in a prior rating decision was not raised.

The VA denied a higher disability rating for the veteran's service-connected sacroiliac strain and lumbar myositis, finding that his symptomatology did not meet criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral hip displacement with degenerative joint disease, finding that there is no evidence linking this disability to his military service.

The Board has determined that the evidence is at least in equipoise, and therefore grants service connection for delusional disorder as a chronic condition incurred during military service.

The Board denied a compensable evaluation for the veteran's service-connected conversion disorder, finding that his condition was in total remission and no manifestations or symptoms of this disability have been demonstrated at any time during the pendency of this appeal.

The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the veteran's secondary service claim (on the basis of causation), but does find that the veteran's service-connected disability of the feet aggravated his right hip disorder. Therefore, entitlement to service connection for a right hip disorder on the basis of aggravation is established.

The VA determined that the veteran does not currently have any residuals of his service-connected corneal abrasion, and thus denied a compensable initial disability rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's Porphyria Cutanea Tarda (PCT) is secondary to his service-connected hepatitis C, and therefore grants service connection for PCT.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused or contributed to by his service-connected peptic dyspepsia with history of duodenal ulcer, and thus denied the claim for service connection for cause of death.

The Board found that the veteran does not suffer from any residuals of an electrical shock during service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 are denied as there is no evidence to support a finding that VA treatment in October 1985 or March 1994 resulted in additional disability.