Other conditions decisions — 2007

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to unverified active duty periods and incomplete medical records.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of January 21, 2003 for Dependents' Educational Assistance benefits due to the VA examination indicating that the veteran's condition was terminal. However, the medical evidence does not support a finding of permanence prior to this date.

The Board found that the appellant's service with the New Philippine Scouts from July 1946 to February 1949 did not qualify as active military, naval, or air service for purposes of establishing eligibility for non-service-connected disability pension benefits. Therefore, the claim is denied.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of malaria, finding that there was no evidence of chronic malaria in service or current residuals due to service.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for skin lesions and Bowen's disease (claimed as skin cancer), finding no evidence linking these conditions to his time in service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board dismissed the appeal as the veteran withdrew his appeal through his authorized representative.

The Board has remanded the case for several actions, including obtaining SSA disability determination records and affording the veteran another opportunity to submit evidence. The CUE claim is inextricably intertwined with the petition to reopen, so it must be adjudicated first.

The Board denied service connection for the residuals of colon surgery and gastrointestinal disorder, finding that these conditions did not manifest in or are related to service.

The Board found that the veteran's current left hip disability is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for a genitourinary system disorder and granted it, finding that new and material evidence had been received. The issue of whether this condition is related to his service-connected lumbar spine disorder remains pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining an opinion on whether the veteran's current non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is related to a lump in his mouth diagnosed in March 1991.

The Board denied the appellant's request for a waiver of repayment of an overpayment in her DIC benefits, finding no fault on her part and that recovery would not defeat the purpose of the benefits.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a mouth injury, including loss of bone, pain, numbness, and injury to the lower lip. The claim is therefore denied.

The Board found no evidence linking the cause of death to service or a service-connected disability, and denied service connection for the cause of death.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating of 10 percent for his service-connected fracture of the right index finger, finding that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE) is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that further development of the medical evidence is needed to determine if there was lung cancer and whether it caused or contributed to the veteran's death. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board denied the reopening of a claim for service connection for residuals, exposure to chemical fumes, including acute pharyngitis due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board found that there is no medical evidence indicating a causal relationship between the veteran's current arrhythmia with irregular heartbeat and his active military service, leading to a denial of the claim for service connection.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for varicose veins and found that new evidence received since the last denial supports the claim. The Board will now consider whether the condition was incurred or aggravated during active duty.