Other conditions decisions — 2008

The VA determined that the veteran's heart murmur, which was noted during service, does not constitute a chronic disability and therefore cannot be granted as service connection.

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for service connection for a stomach disorder, finding that her symptoms are due to undiagnosed illness related to service in the Persian Gulf War.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for liver disability and heart valve disability, finding that there was no evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's antral gastritis and erosive duodenitis are found to be service-connected, while the peripheral vascular disability manifested by skin ulcers is not.

The Board denied service connection for a cardiovascular disorder, concluding that the evidence did not support a finding of causation to military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for umbilical hernia, finding that new and material evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability but denied service connection for bilateral hip arthritis.

The Board has granted a 60 percent schedular rating for the veteran's right inguinal hernia repair, finding that the condition meets the criteria for such a rating due to its recurrence and lack of support under ordinary conditions.

The veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected malaria is being remanded due to deficiencies in the examination provided and the need to assess whether the veteran's malaria is active.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected eye disabilities do not warrant a higher initial evaluation, as they do not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent under the applicable VA Rating Schedule.

The veteran's appeal for a TDIU was dismissed as untimely due to not being filed within the required time frame.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of the veteran's claimed PTSD stressors and a need for further examination.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The current rating of 10 percent for HIV-related illness will not be addressed until after the scheduled hearing.

The appellant's income exceeds the maximum annual pension rate, thus she is not eligible for nonservice-connected death pension benefits.

The Board has determined that the veteran's traumatic arthritis of the right elbow, status post closed reduction of dislocation, does not meet the criteria for a compensable initial rating.

The veteran died in July 2004 and the Board determined that his death was not service-connected. As a result, he is not eligible for burial benefits.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disability is being remanded to the RO due to incomplete medical records and the need for further examination.

The Board has determined that the appellant's case is not ready for appellate disposition due to an outstanding Travel Board hearing request. The case is being remanded to schedule a new hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the local RO.

The appellant is not eligible to commence a course of Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits under Chapter 35, Title 38 United States Code due to his age at the time of application and the retroactive effective date for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation and Chapter 35 benefits.