Other conditions decisions — 2008

The Board finds that the veteran's current skin, left testicle, and right elbow disabilities are service-connected. The tuberculin skin reaction is not considered a disability for which service connection may be granted. The stomach disability does not have a current diagnosis.

The Board has granted service connection for chronic lymphocyte leukemia and denied service connection for chronic nail fungus. The veteran's hearing loss is currently rated at 0 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's multinodular goiter, post-operative is likely to have had its onset during active duty service and may be associated with environmental factors. Therefore, service connection for this condition is granted.

The Board has determined that an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for chronic non-specific urethritis and prostatitis is not warranted, as it was granted on April 1, 2004, which is the earliest possible effective date.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder, including as secondary to Agent Orange exposure, finding that there is no competent medical evidence linking any current diagnosed skin disorder to active military service or to exposure to herbicides.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining the veteran's service personnel records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if his current disability is related to his period of active service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability of vasovagal syncope and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board has granted initial noncompensable evaluations for residuals of anal fistula and grade II reflux esophagitis, with the effective date being October 1, 2004.

The Board has determined that the veteran's peripheral vascular disease of both legs does not warrant evaluations in excess of 60 percent.

The Board found that the veteran was not a fugitive felon during the period from December 27, 2001 to October 9, 2003 and therefore his benefits should not have been discontinued.

The Board has determined that the debt of $5,794.80 was not properly created and the veteran does not owe this money.

The Board denied service connection for a right eye disorder and an increased rating for somatization disorder affecting the orthopedic and gastrointestinal systems.

The veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities is being remanded as requested by the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The RO/AMC must obtain SSA medical records, VA vocational rehabilitation folder, and treatment records from the Little Rock VA treatment facility. A VA examination is also required to assess the impact of his service-connected conditions on his employability.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for VA death benefits as she is not a child eligible under VA regulations due to her age and lack of evidence showing she was permanently incapable of self-support before turning 18.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for pulmonary nodules, stating that there is no current diagnosed disability and thus cannot establish a link to service or any presumptive conditions.

The veteran's appeal for basic eligibility for VA educational assistance under Chapter 30 was denied as he did not meet the legal requirements for such benefits.

The veteran's pituitary microadenoma has been rated at 10 percent since May 24, 2002. The VA determined that the condition is currently controlled with medication and does not meet criteria for a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death and also denied his claim for death pension benefits due to lack of wartime service.

The appellant's deceased spouse did not have the required military service to qualify for VA death pension benefits.

The Board found that the veteran's cause of death was service-connected and granted DIC benefits to his children. The motion for CUE argued by the surviving spouse (movant) is not about service connection, but rather about her status as a surviving spouse.