Other conditions decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that an effective date earlier than January 1, 2005 for the award of additional compensation for a dependent spouse is not warranted.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have current residuals of a chest injury sustained in service, and therefore, his claim for service connection is denied.

The Board found that the appellant's deceased husband did not have valid military service, and therefore is not eligible for VA death benefits.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a review of the veteran's service-connected right eye injury and any associated headaches. The RO must obtain medical records, arrange visual field examinations, and provide an opinion on whether there is a chronic headache disorder etiologically associated with his service-connected right eye disability.

The Board has determined that the appellant cannot establish basic eligibility for nonservice-connected death pension benefits due to lack of service in a qualifying period of war. The claims for service connection for cause of death and DIC benefits pursuant to 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 are being remanded for further development.

The Board denied a higher initial rating for the veteran's service-connected onychomycosis, finding that the disability did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by or substantially contributed to by a disability incurred in or aggravated by his service, and denied the claim for service connection for cause of death.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete information and evidence, including a need for updated financial statements and medical expense reports.

The veteran's service does not qualify the appellant for VA death pension benefits.

The veteran's service does not meet the threshold criteria for basic eligibility for nonservice-connected pension benefits, and his claim is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of nervous autonomic imbalance and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The veteran's claim for an annual clothing allowance was denied as he does not have a service-connected disability that requires him to wear or use a prosthetic or orthopedic appliance (including a wheelchair) that tends to wear out or tear his clothing.

The veteran's service is recognized as guerrilla service, but it does not qualify for VA nonservice-connected death pension benefits.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his residuals of spontaneous pneumothorax, finding that the disability did not warrant a higher rating than the current 10 percent assigned.

The Board granted a 100% evaluation for the veteran's organic brain syndrome effective April 20, 2000.

The veteran's death was due to congestive heart failure, which occurred after he sought private medical care. The claim for payment of unauthorized medical expenses is denied as VA facilities were not unfeasibly available and the veteran did not meet all criteria for reimbursement under Chapter 17 regulations.

The veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of private medical expenses is denied as the VA facilities were not feasibly available and an attempt to use them beforehand would have been reasonable.

The Board has granted service connection for intermittent tendonitis of the fingers, finding that it was incurred during active service.

The veteran claims he developed complications of peripheral artery disease as a result of VA treatment, specifically surgical procedures performed in September and December 2005. The Board has ordered additional development to determine if the procedures caused additional disability and whether any such disability was due to VA's fault or unforeseeable events.

The Board found that the appellant's bilateral upper extremity weakness is related to an undiagnosed illness that developed as a result of his service in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War, and granted service connection for this condition.