Other conditions decisions — 2006

The Board has determined that the appellant's deceased spouse did not have qualifying service for VA benefits, and thus the appellant is not considered a 'veteran' for purposes of receiving VA benefits.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records from a juvenile detention facility and translating documents. The appeal is not about service connection.

The appellant is not recognized as a helpless child of the veteran due to lack of evidence showing permanent incapacity for self-support prior to age 18.

The veteran's enrollment at Western Seminary Seattle from January 4, 2002 to September 18, 2002 was not approved by the State Approving Agency as a VA-approved institution. Therefore, payment for this period is denied.

The veteran's application for enrollment in the VA healthcare system was denied due to his placement in Priority Group 8, which does not qualify him for enrollment as he did not meet the eligibility criteria set by VA regulations.

The appellant's application for enrollment in the VA healthcare system was denied due to his status as a nonservice-connected veteran and the financial information provided, resulting in him being assigned to priority group 8. As he is not already enrolled and does not meet the eligibility requirements, his claim must be denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional review of new evidence and a medical opinion regarding the possibility of safe transfer from St. Luke's Regional Medical Center to VA facilities prior to September 12, 2001.

The veteran seeks service connection for basal cell carcinoma, which he claims is related to his exposure to sunlight while stationed in Vietnam. The VA has determined that a medical examination and opinion are necessary due to the potential association with Agent Orange exposure and/or sunlight.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation in excess of 20 percent for spondylolysis with spondylolisthesis, L5-S1 is being remanded due to the need for a new examination.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for cold injuries of his hands, feet and legs as there is no objective or clinical evidence demonstrating that he sustained such injuries during service or at any time after service.

The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for peripheral vascular disease of the lower extremities as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus Type II. The RO should schedule a Travel Board hearing and take appropriate action.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim seeking service connection for a skin disorder. The veteran's sworn testimony and lay statements are considered significant in this decision.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an effective date earlier than January 13, 2003, for a grant of service connection for functional bowel disease.

The Board has determined that the veteran's additional neurological disability, due to a February 2001 TIA, is not related to his accidental use of ergotamine or the resulting MI in early February 2001. Therefore, VA compensation benefits for this condition are denied.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of right elbow and femur fractures were denied. The RO assigned a 20 percent rating for the right femur fracture, effective September 29, 1999.

The Board has determined that a 10 percent evaluation is warranted for the veteran's service-connected status-post left inguinal hernia repair and a superficial scar, status-post left inguinal hernia repair since July 15, 2004.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected right hydronephrosis, finding that there is no evidence of current disability.

The case is being remanded for scheduling a Travel Board hearing.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral hand arthritis and degenerative joint disease were not incurred in or aggravated by service. The VA examiner provided more probative weight to their opinion, concluding that the arthritis was not related to service. For his right pneumothorax with right lower lobectomy, the Board denied an evaluation in excess of 30 percent.