Other conditions decisions — 2006

The Board has granted service connection for schizoaffective disorder and assigned a disability rating of 30 percent. The issue of an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection remains pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's status-post disk herniation of the thoracic spine at T2-3 had its onset during military service and granted her claim for service connection.

The veteran's chronic cystitis and pyelitis were granted a 40 percent evaluation effective June 3, 2005. The condition was previously rated noncompensably disabling prior to that date.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature of the veteran's bunion condition and whether it was aggravated by service. The issues on appeal will be remanded for further action.

The veteran's service was less than two years, and she did not meet the eligibility requirements for Chapter 30 educational assistance benefits.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for death pension benefits due to her income exceeding the maximum limit of $8,322 per year.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the 70 percent evaluation of service-connected post traumatic stress disorder, finding that the veteran's claim was not factually ascertainable within one year prior to December 16, 2003.

The veteran's malignant brain tumor was not caused by any aspect of service and did not manifest to a compensable degree within one year following his separation from service.

The Board has granted the veteran's claims for service connection for pelvic adhesions and infertility as residuals of her right ectopic pregnancy in service. The effective date remains to be determined based on further development.

The Board found that the overpayment of VA educational assistance benefits was properly created and denied the appeal.

The veteran is seeking a higher rating for his service-connected pylorospasm, which was previously granted a 10 percent disability rating. The Board has ordered the case back to the RO for further development and readjudication.

The veteran's appeal for an increased rating for recurrent ureteral calculus was denied due to his failure to appear for a VA examination scheduled in September 2005 without good cause.

The veteran's claims for service connection for loss of sexual drive, hair loss on lower extremities, and a chronic gastrointestinal disorder due to undiagnosed illness were denied as there is no evidence of such conditions during his active duty or associated with an undiagnosed illness.

The Board has determined that the veteran's ulcerative colitis warrants a disability rating of no more than 30 percent, as it is currently manifested by frequent exacerbations and does not meet the criteria for higher ratings due to malnutrition or other severe symptoms.

The Board granted service connection for residuals of trichinosis effective January 3, 2001. The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date was also granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed conditions of epistaxis, respiratory symptoms, dermatophytosis, and loss of dentition are not service-connected as secondary to herbicide exposure. The evidence does not support a finding of such connection.

The veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder was granted service connection as it is linked to his in-service stressors, which have been corroborated by service records.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for recognition as the veteran's surviving spouse, finding that there was no valid marriage between them at the time of his death in January 1973.

The veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on loss of use of the left hand is being remanded due to a lack of VCAA notice.

The Board found that the veteran had two valid enlistments for VA compensation and pension purposes from 17 August 1951 through 16 August 1953, and from 17 August 1953 through 16 August 1956. The third period of service was terminated by an under other than honorable conditions (UOTHC) discharge.