Other conditions decisions — 2008

The veteran's claim for reimbursement of medical expenses incurred between December 3, 1999, and January 5, 2000, was denied because the treatment provided was not rendered in a medical emergency.

The veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude substantially gainful employment, and therefore a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability is denied.

The veteran's cardiac pacemaker implantation has been manifested by no more than four episodes per year of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation or other supraventricular tachycardia, and a workload of approximately 10 metabolic equivalents (METs) results in dyspnea, fatigue, dizziness, or syncope. The evidence does not support an increased disability rating.

The veteran did not meet the minimum active duty service requirements to establish basic eligibility for entitlement to pension benefits, and a statutorily recognized exception to those requirements is not currently demonstrated.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of cold injuries to his feet and hands, as there was no evidence of relevant injury during service or current residuals attributable to his military service.

The Board denied service connection for a disability manifested by non-cardiac chest pain and left arm pain, as there was no demonstration of a chronic disability.

The Board finds that it is as likely as not that the veteran's current bilateral foot condition is related to her service.

The veteran's left inguinal hernia is not shown to be small, postoperative recurrent, or unoperated irremediable, not well supported by truss, or not readily reducible. Therefore, a rating in excess of 10 percent for the disability is denied.

The veteran's claim for automobile and adaptive equipment was denied because he has not permanently lost the use of one or both feet due to service-connected disability, ankylosis of one or both knees or one or both hips is not shown, and his left AKA is not service-related.

The Board has reopened the claims of service connection for palate angioedema and degenerative joint disease of the hands, and granted service connection for lip and palate angioedema as secondary to allergic rhinitis. The claim for a bilateral hand disability was also reopened.

The veteran's spouse was granted an effective date of July 1, 2001 for additional compensation benefits, while the children A.D. and J.D. were denied an earlier effective date.

The Board denied service connection for an irregular heartbeat and a skin disorder as there was no evidence of these conditions during service or within the relevant time frame, and no medical evidence linking them to service.

The veteran's claim for automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment allowance was denied as he does not have the requisite level of disability to receive such benefits.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic acquired left eye disorder, as there was no evidence of such a condition during active service or many years thereafter and it was not etiologically related to his service-connected cheek shell fragment wound residuals.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for right and left foot disorders as there was no evidence of a chronic disease in service or within one year after discharge, and no competent medical evidence linking the current conditions to his military service.

The character of the veteran's discharge from service in April 1973 is not a bar to VA benefits.

The veteran's claim for non-service-connected pension benefits was denied due to lack of wartime service.

The Board found that the veteran was not a fugitive felon during the period from June 17, 2003 to September 20, 2004 and thus the overpayment of disability compensation benefits for this period is not valid.

The veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for her service-connected right foot disability is being remanded for an updated VA examination to assess the current severity of the condition.

The veteran's astrocytoma and cerebrovascular accident (CVA) were granted service connection, with the CVA being secondary to the astrocytoma.