Other conditions decisions — 2008

The veteran's son, who was over the age of 18 and not pursuing education at an approved institution, is denied additional dependency benefits based on school attendance.

The veteran's claim for additional special monthly compensation (SMC) for loss of use of his bilateral legs is being remanded due to the need for further examination and consideration.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claim for an earlier effective date than March 15, 2001 for the grant of Dependency and Indemnity compensation (DIC) is denied. The March 2001 rating decision assignment of March 15, 2001 as the effective date for the grant of DIC became a final decision.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left hand disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 50 percent, and his claim for TDIU due to service-connected disability is also denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's dental condition, which is due to pre-existing trauma that worsened during service. The veteran will be eligible for VA outpatient dental treatment.

The veteran's income exceeded the maximum allowable pension rate, resulting in denial of his claim for nonservice-connected disability pension benefits.

The veteran seeks an increased disability rating for his service-connected mood disorder. The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for additional evidence and clarification of the extent of the veteran's disability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for cause of the veteran's death. The case is being remanded to obtain additional medical records related to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, which may be a contributing factor in the veteran's death.

The Board found that the preponderance of evidence is against finding a current neck disorder related to service or a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's history of pulmonary embolism, which is currently rated as analogous to pulmonary vascular disease (Diagnostic Code 6817), does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation due to its asymptomatic nature.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for lung disability and granted it, finding new evidence that relates to the etiology of his current condition.

The Board found no evidence of current malaria or its residuals, and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the severity of his service-connected corns and calluses of both feet. Additionally, he must be provided with a SOC pertaining to his claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disorder other than the service-connected corns and calluses of both feet.

The Board has determined that the veteran sustained dental trauma to tooth #8 during service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has requested a medical opinion to clarify the treatment records and remanded the case for further development, including obtaining all relevant military and private treatment records.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for basic eligibility for VA death benefits due to a lack of service in the United States Armed Forces, as determined by the National Personnel Records Center.

The veteran's pilonidal cyst with a painful scar has been rated at 10 percent since September 23, 2005.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection claim for syphilis is granted as it was incurred in active military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's unauthorized medical expenses should be reimbursed due to his service-connected total disability based on individual unemployability and the emergent nature of his injuries.

The Board previously granted an increased disability rating for the veteran's posterior left diaphragmatic hernia, but this case is now being remanded to determine if a timely appeal was filed from the October 1978 decision that granted service connection and assigned a 10 percent disability rating.