Other conditions decisions — 2008

The veteran's service-connected back condition did not cause his fall, which led to a head injury resulting in death. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the veteran's death was related to service or to a service-connected disability.

The veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a non-VA facility on May 4 and May 5, 2006 is denied as he did not meet the criteria set forth in VA regulations.

The veteran's claims for service connection were granted, but the effective dates are not earlier than September 14, 1968 and August 27, 2001 respectively.,PTSD was rated at 50 percent prior to February 15, 2006 and at 70 percent thereafter.

The Board has determined that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including psychotic disorder, intermittent explosive disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder, were incurred during active service. The decision is based on a finding of direct service connection.

The Board has determined that the overpayment of $2,014.73 for the period from January [redacted], 1995, to June [redacted], 1995 was validly created due to the veteran's incarceration and correct calculation.

The Board has granted an increased rating of 10 percent for the veteran's service-connected residuals of a left varicocelectomy, finding that these residuals are manifested by testalgia.

The Board has decided to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including psychosis. The decision is based on new and material evidence submitted by the veteran.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a disability of the right hand, to include scars, as a result of his active duty service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the appellant had active service, which meets the basic eligibility requirement for nonservice-connected pension benefits. The appeal is granted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for granuloma annulare, finding that it was not due to an undiagnosed illness and thus decided on the merits.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a left radial neck fracture, finding that the disability did not warrant a higher evaluation based on the evidence provided.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating of his intervertebral disc degeneration at L5-S1, finding that it did not warrant a disability evaluation in excess of 40 percent.

The Board has ordered additional development due to incomplete evidence, including a missing MRI report and the need for an addendum from the VA examiner who conducted the June 2008 examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for lipoma of the right axilla, finding that it is not related to his military service and may not be presumed due to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board found that the veteran's current eye conditions are either congenital or refractive errors and not related to his active service. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board found that the veteran's pancreatic cancer, thrombocytopenia, and heart valve replacement were not caused by or substantially contributed to by any service-connected conditions. The requirements for basic eligibility for Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) under Chapter 35 have also not been met.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for additional development due to insufficient medical evidence on file, and will provide VA examinations to determine if any of his claimed disabilities are etiologically related to military service.

The veteran died before a decision could be made on his claim for service connection for post-operative residuals of cancer of the larynx, which he claimed was secondary to exposure to herbicides (Agent Orange). The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the veteran.

The appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal prior to a decision being made.

The VA determined that the veteran's vision problems were not caused by negligence or lack of skill in their care, and thus denied compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.