Other conditions decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that the veteran's varicose veins were aggravated by his military service, and therefore, he is entitled to service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for basic eligibility for Department of Veterans Affairs nonservice-connected death pension benefits because her late husband had only recognized guerrilla service, which does not qualify him for non-service-connected pension.

The appellant's service with the Philippine Scouts is not considered for purposes of non-service-connected disability pension benefits, and thus he is denied eligibility.

The Board found that the appellant's service did not meet basic eligibility criteria for pension benefits due to lack of qualifying service, and thus denied his claim.

The appellant's claim for VA benefits was denied because her spouse did not have qualifying service in the Philippine Commonwealth Army, including the recognized guerrillas, in the United States Armed Forces.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for a head injury with dental trauma.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by or related to his military service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the reduction of the veteran's disability rating from 30 percent to 10 percent for status post pilonidal cystectomy was proper, as evidenced by improvement in his condition.

The veteran's service does not meet the criteria for basic eligibility for nonservice-connected pension benefits due to lack of qualifying wartime service.

The Board found that the appellant's substantive appeal was not timely filed, and thus dismissed the appeal regarding legal entitlement to non-service connected death pension benefits.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for additional benefits for her adopted child, L.N.C., as he was not legally recognized as an adoptive child of the veteran for VA purposes due to his age at adoption and the timing of the adoption decree.

The Board found that the veteran's left hip disability did not manifest during service and is not related to his active service. As a result, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has denied service connection for otitis externa and media due to lack of current diagnosis. The claims for reopening service connection for headaches and acne have not been considered as the new evidence is deemed insufficient to reopen these claims.

The Board found that the appellant did not submit new and material evidence to reopen his previously denied claim for nonservice-connected disability pension benefits.

The Board found that the overpayment of Montgomery GI Bill benefits in the amount of $750.01 was properly created, and thus denied the appeal.

The Board has granted the appellant's request to reopen her cause of death service connection claim, as new and material evidence has been presented. The claim will be remanded for further development regarding whether exposure to herbicides in Vietnam caused or contributed to the veteran's pancreatic cancer.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for VA benefits because her spouse's service with the Organized Defense Volunteers of the Central Pacific Area was not deemed active military service, and thus did not meet the criteria for basic eligibility for VA death benefits.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for residuals of a left leg injury was denied, as the current 30 percent rating is the maximum available under Diagnostic Code 5311. The heart condition claim was granted as secondary to service-connected left leg disability.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral elbow disorder and entitlement to a permanent and total rating for non-service connected pension purposes were denied as the veteran failed to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause.

The Board found that the veteran's right hand disability is not secondary to his service-connected traumatic arthritis of the right 2nd and 3rd fingers, and thus denied an increased rating.