Other conditions decisions — 2007

The veteran's service-connected low back disability prevents him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The VA has assigned a 10 percent disability rating for the veteran's service-connected pelvic inflammatory disease, effective June 11, 1996. The condition requires continuous treatment to control symptoms.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for an extension of the delimiting period for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits under Chapter 35, Title 38, United States Code because her eligibility had expired many years before she would have otherwise become eligible by reason of her marriage to the veteran.

The Board denied a compensable disability rating for malaria as there is no indication in the record that the veteran has any active disease or current residuals related to malaria.

The veteran's death was not caused by, or substantially or materially contributed to by, a disability incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service. The cause of the veteran's death (gastric cancer) and other significant conditions contributing to death but not related to service were determined to have begun many years post-service and there is no competent evidence that links any of these fatal diseases to any incident of active duty, including exposure to herbicides.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the veteran's narcolepsy.

The appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant before a decision was made.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and denied Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. Chapter 35.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for cause of death. The case is remanded for further medical evaluation regarding the impact of decomposing body on blood alcohol level.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for frontal lobe syndrome, previously claimed as organic brain syndrome, and finds that new evidence supports a finding of service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to service connection for a chronic gastrointestinal and digestive condition, including consideration of presumptive service connection under the provisions of the Persian Gulf War illness regulations. The veteran's claim is also being considered on the basis that his claim was reopened based on new evidence.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection due to new and material evidence, including a recent medical opinion linking his current gastrointestinal disability to complaints in service. The Board has also determined that the veteran's current gastrointestinal disability is as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right ankle more nearly approximates the criteria for a 20 percent evaluation due to marked limitation of motion, and therefore grants an increased evaluation from 10 to 20 percent.

The veteran's death was caused by his service-connected gastric cancer, and the appellant is granted service connection for this condition as a cause of death. She is also granted accrued benefits based on her pending claim for service connection for gastric cancer.

The Board found that the veteran's decreased visual acuity in the left eye was not caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or similar fault. The event (decompensation of cornea) was not reasonably foreseeable.

The Board found no evidence to support a causal link between the veteran's basal cell carcinoma and his military service, including exposure to Agent Orange or diesel fuel. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for skin disability, finding that there was no competent evidence linking his current diagnosis to his military service, including exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 20 percent for the veteran's urethral stricture and denied any increase in his rating for chronic adjustment disorder with depressed mood.

The veteran's initial service was prior to June 30, 1985 and he did not meet the eligibility criteria for Chapter 30 educational assistance benefits.

The Board denied the appellant's claim of basic eligibility for VA benefits due to a lack of qualifying service in the United States Armed Forces.