Other conditions decisions — 2008

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, nonservice-connected death pension benefits, and accrued benefits.

The veteran was granted a 20 percent rating for temporomandibular articulation prior to May 24, 2006, but the rating of 20 percent was not sustained after that date.

The veteran's currently diagnosed dental disorder, manifested by the loss of all teeth, is not considered disabling for VA compensation purposes as it is due to periodontal disease that occurred many years after separation from military service.

The veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred on July 26, 2003, was denied because the claim was not timely filed.

The veteran's claims for service connection for German measles and a disorder manifested by heavy periods were denied as there is no evidence of current disability or nexus to service.

The appellant was not recognized as the surviving spouse of the veteran for purposes of entitlement to death pension benefits.

The overpayment of improved pension benefits in the amount of $29,853 was properly created due to the veteran's failure to report changes in income. Recovery of this debt would not be against equity and good conscience.

The veteran's pes cavus was granted an increased evaluation from 10 percent to 30 percent.

The Board denied the claim for payment of attorney fees from past-due benefits based on a September 2004 rating decision, as there was no final Board decision regarding entitlement to TDIU and the issue was not reasonably raised at the time of the February 2000 Board decision.

The appellant was not recognized as the deceased veteran's surviving spouse for VA death benefits because there was no continuous cohabitation from the date of marriage to his death, and her separation is attributed to the veteran's misconduct.

The veteran's service-connected bronchiectasis with left lower lobectomy, evaluated at 60 percent, does not render him unemployable.

The case is remanded to obtain a VA medical opinion regarding the relationship between the veteran's service-connected disabilities and his death.

The appeal was remanded to provide the veteran with proper notice regarding his National Guard service and to ensure compliance with the Board's previous directive.

The appeal is remanded for further development and adjudication of the veteran's claim for service connection for loss of teeth, which was claimed as secondary to her service-connected bronchial asthma.

The veteran's service-connected varicoceles of the left and right hemiscrotum are rated at 10 percent, as they are manifested primarily by tenderness to palpation and aching pain after standing or walking with symptoms relieved by compression; there is no evidence of persistent edema.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chronic chondritis of the lower dorsal vertebrae, Scheuermann's disease, and degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine as there was no evidence showing a current diagnosis of these conditions or that they were related to his military service.

The veteran's current neurological impairment of lower extremities is not shown to be related to his military service, or to a service-connected hip disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a left shin disability as there was no competent evidence of record showing a link between the current disability and his military service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for nerve damage to the left elbow was denied as there is no evidence of a chronic disability in service or continuity of symptomatology thereafter. The effective date for the 60 percent evaluation for intervertebral disc syndrome of the lumbar spine remained July 31, 2000.

The Board dismissed the appeal as a timely substantive appeal was not received following the June 2005 rating decision to sever service connection for degenerative changes of the right knee.