Other conditions decisions — 2008

The Board found that the veteran's generalized arthritis is not attributable to any injury or disease in service, and therefore denied his claim of service connection.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected removal of undescended right testicle as there is no evidence showing loss or nonfunctioning of the nonservice-connected testicle, which would warrant a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 7524.

The veteran's disability benefits were retroactively reduced due to incarceration, resulting in an overpayment. The case is being remanded for the veteran to provide a current financial status report so VA can determine his ability to repay the overpayment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of Hodgkin's lymphoma warrant a 60 percent disability rating for the period beginning January 1, 2003. The reduction in rating from 60 percent to 0 percent effective March 1, 2005 was not proper.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's left knee disability, but denied entitlement to higher evaluations or separate ratings for his knee condition. The veteran is awarded a 10 percent rating for traumatic degenerative joint disease of the left knee and compensable ratings for hemorrhoids. Service connection for seborrheic dermatitis was not established.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a facial injury, including a broken nose and sinus trouble due to new evidence submitted since the last denial. The case is now remanded for further examination.

The Board has decided that the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a stomach disability needs further examination and development, including providing notice under VCAA and scheduling an appropriate medical examination.

The Board has decided to remand both issues for further development and consideration, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for left foot pain and found that new evidence received since the last denial supports this claim. However, the Board also determined that there is no current disability related to the in-service injury.

The Board denied service connection for otitis media and otitis externa, but granted a 10% rating for bilateral pes planus. The left wrist injury is not considered service-connected.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for enuresis and found that new evidence submitted since the 1997 denial shows inservice treatment. However, the VA examiner concluded that the current enuresis is due to benign prostatic hypertrophy unrelated to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death and also denied his DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318, finding that there was no evidence to support a causal link between any service-connected disability and his death.

The veteran's postoperative residuals of a HNP at L5-S1 with laminotomy, foraminotomy, and discectomy are currently rated as 20% disabling. The VA has granted an increased rating to reflect the severity of his disability.

The veteran's death was not service-connected, and therefore the appellant is denied reimbursement from accrued amounts for burial expenses.

The veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance is being remanded due to incomplete information regarding his need for personal health services.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the appellant's discharge from service was under dishonorable conditions, thus constituting a bar to VA benefits.

The Board found that the reduction of the veteran's disability compensation benefits due to incarceration was not proper and ordered reinstatement of his benefits.

The veteran's spouse and three minor children are seeking an increase in the amount of apportionment from $250 per month to a higher amount. The Board found that the current special apportionment is reasonable given the veteran's limited income and the appellant's reported expenses, and denied the claim for a higher apportionment.

The veteran's appeal to deny his claim for service connection for heel pain was not timely filed, as he did not submit a substantive appeal within one year of the July 2002 rating decision and over sixty days from the issuance of the November 21, 2003 Statement of the Case.

The Board found no evidence that the veteran's cause of death was related to service, including due to herbicide exposure. The claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death is denied.