Other conditions decisions — 2007

The VA granted an increased rating of 10 percent for the veteran's service-connected left toe disability, but denied a retroactive effective date.

The Board has decided to remand the veteran's claims for service connection, including his skin disability and PTSD. Additional development is needed to verify the veteran's service in Saudi Arabia, obtain medical records from relevant sources, and provide a VA examination.

The Board found that the veteran's current bilateral bunions were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim for secondary service connection for a right foot infection, but further development is needed to determine if there is a causal relationship between his current infections and his service-connected right great toe fracture.

The Board has determined that the veteran's atrial fibrillation, post pace maker implantation and transient ischemic attack is secondarily related to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than September 5, 2003 for a 100 percent scheduler rating for a brain aneurysm and a TDIU. The veteran was previously assigned a 30 percent schedular evaluation.

The veteran's claim for a waiver of recovery of an overpayment of VA education benefits is being remanded due to confusion regarding the amount and validity of the debt, as well as unclear records. The case will be re-evaluated with additional financial records from the veteran and any relevant school or bank records.

The veteran's service-connected residuals of a back injury are currently evaluated as 20 percent disabling. The Board denied the claims for an increased rating and SMC.

The veteran's residuals of a gunshot wound to the left hip are rated at 10 percent, which is granted. The total disability rating and special monthly compensation claims were also granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's back injury during service resulted in current residuals, including spondylolysis and spondylolithesis. The claim is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate notice provided to the veteran regarding his claims for service connection for purposes of VA outpatient dental treatment. The veteran is seeking service connection for tooth number 9 and teeth numbered 1, 16, 17, and 32.

The Board denied an increased rating for chronic capsulitis with chondromalacia patella of the left knee and granted a separate 10 percent disability rating for degenerative joint disease, but found that neither condition warranted a higher rating.

The Board found no evidence of a pre-existing left knee condition and concluded that the veteran's current chondromalacia patella and tendinitis were not incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability due to an allergy to insect bites, and thus service connection is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's residuals of carcinoma of the sigmoid colon and assigned a noncompensable disability rating, but found that the symptoms are slight and do not warrant a higher rating.

The veteran's claim for increased compensation for a dependent prior to September 4, 2002 was denied as there is no clear evidence that the RO mailed him notice of the October 1, 1978 changes to VA regulations regarding additional benefits for a dependent. The effective date cannot be earlier than the date of receipt of the evidence.

The Board has granted a 100 percent disability rating for the veteran's service-connected schizoaffective disorder, finding that her symptoms meet or approximate total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has determined that the appellant is the veteran's surviving spouse for VA purposes, despite periods of separation due to the veteran's alcoholism.

The veteran's meralgia paresthetica of the left femoral cutaneous nerve is currently manifested by numbness, a throbbing sensation with prolonged standing or sitting, no atrophy, and mild incomplete paralysis. The Board finds that this condition does not warrant a compensable evaluation.

The Board has determined that the veteran owed an overpayment of $18,951.00 for educational assistance benefits due to fraudulent enrollment at Ramon Magsaysay University. The decision denies the request for waiver of recovery of this overpayment.