Other conditions decisions — 2008

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, finding that while the personality disorder was first diagnosed in service, it is not considered a disease for compensation purposes.

The veteran's defective left ear hearing with postoperative residuals, mastoidectomy, and tympanoplasty is rated at 0 percent. The evidence does not support a higher rating.

The veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to consider a challenge to an administrative decision regarding his motor vehicle accident in service.

The Board has determined that the discontinuance of pension payments from December 27, 2001 to May 2, 2005 and the creation of an overpayment in the amount of $17,624.53 was improper.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for special monthly pension (SMP) based on a need for aid and attendance or due to being housebound, finding that he does not meet the requirements for this benefit.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have residuals of a stress fracture to his left heel, and therefore service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has determined that the evidence received since the March 1995 decision is not new and material, thus denying the reopening of the claim for service connection for the cause of death under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Board has determined that the appellant meets the requirements to be recognized as the surviving spouse of the veteran for purposes of VA benefits, based on a valid common law marriage prior to September 17, 2003.

The veteran's claim for treatment in the VA health care system without a co-payment requirement was denied. The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining financial information and reviewing the veteran's claims file.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete VA medical records and the need for further examination.

The VA determined that the veteran's metastatic squamous cell cancer, presumed to be from an occult head and neck primary cancer (claimed as lung cancer), was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service, including exposure to Agent Orange. The claim for service connection is denied.

The veteran died in 2000 and was buried shortly thereafter. The appellant's claim for burial and funeral expenses was not received within two years of the veteran's permanent burial, as required by law. Therefore, the appeal is denied.

The veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of entitlement to an effective date prior to April 1, 2006 for dependency allowance for spouse.

The veteran seeks payment or reimbursement for medical expenses incurred at South Lake Hospital on October 10, 2005. The VA is requesting additional records to determine if the treatment was a medical emergency.

The Board denied an increased evaluation for malaria, finding that the veteran's service-connected malaria is not active and there are no chronic residuals related to it.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hypoglycemia as there is no diagnosed disability to support the claim.

The veteran's skin disorder is not presumed to be due to herbicide exposure. The Board has ordered a VA examination to determine if the current skin disorders are related to service, including possible exposure to parasites in the water.

The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 10 percent for Horner's syndrome, finding that the veteran's symptoms are characterized by slight ptosis and right eye irritation, which reflect no more than moderate incomplete paralysis.

The veteran's request for a waiver of overpayment of nonservice-connected pension benefits was denied as he did not file the request within 180 days after receiving notice of indebtedness.

The Board has granted service connection for a cardiovascular disease secondary to the veteran's service-connected left leg amputation, but denied an increased rating for his degenerative joint disease of the lumber spine.