Other conditions decisions — 2007

The Board has remanded the case due to confusion in the development of the case and missing paper documentation. The RO must conduct an audit, adjudicate the validity of any debt created, provide notice and opportunity for response, and issue a supplemental statement of the case if necessary.

The Board found that the veteran's failure to complete his application for admission to New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary was not due to fault, and thus recovery of the overpayment would not be against equity and good conscience.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for status post rhinoplasty nasal septum deformities and chronic upper respiratory infections, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability or a link to active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left ear hearing disability is linked to service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development and examination, including a clothing allowance claim, increased rating claims for thrombophlebitis and varicose veins of the right lower extremity, and an increase in disability rating for thrombophlebitis of the left lower extremity from 40% to 60%. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral eye disability, residuals of fire injury to include skin cancer and burns of the hands and face, claimed disability of the immune system to include allergies and infections, and an increased rating for residuals of an appendectomy. The evidence does not support a relationship between any current disabilities and service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's gastrointestinal disorder, neurological disorders of the hands and left arm, and sinus disorder are all related to his military service.

The veteran's chronic joint and muscle pain was not incurred or aggravated by active service, and its incurrence or aggravation during such service may not be presumed.

The Board has determined that the veteran's pre-existing psychosis was aggravated by service, and thus granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for right elbow epicondylitis, finding that there was no evidence of limited motion or pain in either period.

The Board found that the veteran's service medical records are not available and denied his claim for service connection for an eye disorder as it was not incurred in active military service.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he abandoned his claim by failing to respond to requests for information and evidence, and by not reporting for VA examinations and a hearing.

The Board has denied the reduction of the veteran's VA pension benefits based on his spouse's countable income and the denial of a waiver for overpayment of $51,620. The veteran is required to provide updated financial information.

The Board has determined that the preponderance of the competent and probative medical evidence does not support a finding that the veteran suffers from a disability of the vocal chords, which is necessary for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claimed respiratory disorder and urinary condition were not incurred in or aggravated by service, and there is no evidence of a current disability for the irritable bladder and colon conditions. Therefore, these claims are denied.

The veteran's pension benefits were denied as of August 1, 2004 due to his income exceeding the maximum allowed for pension.

The Board has granted an effective date of January 7, 1994 for the grant of TDIU based on the veteran's service-connected psychotic disorder.

The Board found no evidence of a psychiatric disability during service and denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board has granted the appellant's petition to reopen her claim of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that new and material evidence has been received since the November 1985 RO decision.

The veteran's service-connected somatoform pain disorder of the feet and his nonservice-connected HIV disability do not render him unemployable, thus he is denied a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.