Other conditions decisions — 2008

The veteran's pleural disease/fibrosis of the lungs is attributable to service, and the Board finds that this condition was incurred in active service.

The veteran's death was ruled as a suicide, but there is no evidence linking any service-connected disability to his death. The Board found that the cause of death did not stem from a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for a right hip and right leg disorders to include as secondary to service-connected residuals of a fracture of the pelvis and chronic low back strain due to additional development being required.

The Board has determined that the veteran's malaria did not result in any residual disability and therefore does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The case is being remanded for further actions to determine eligibility for payment or reimbursement of private medical expenses.

The Board has ordered the RO to attempt to obtain medical records from Dr. Antonio Quismorio and Southern Ilocos Sur District Hospital, as these records are relevant to the issue of service connection for the cause of death. The case will be returned to the Board for further review.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by his representative prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Board found no evidence linking the veteran's service-connected back disability to his death from acute coronary insufficiency, and thus denied service connection for cause of death.

The veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of ambulance transportation rendered by the Lebanon Fire District Ambulance on September 1, 2006 was granted due to a lack of evidence showing that the initial claim was not timely filed.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking his fatal heart condition to military service.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim for DIC benefits due to new and material evidence submitted since the last denial. However, the Board denied her claim as a surviving spouse because she did not continuously cohabitate with the veteran until his death.

The Board has determined that an earlier effective date for the grant of compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for Hodgkin's disease is in order, but not as early as the veteran is seeking. The effective date granted by the Board is April 21, 1989.

The veteran's service-connected reactive airway disease is currently rated at 10 percent, and the adjustment disorder prior to July 16, 2007, was also rated at 10 percent. As of July 16, 2007, the adjustment disorder has been rated at 30 percent.,The veteran's service-connected reactive airway disease does not warrant a higher rating as it is currently manifested by FEV-1 and FEV-1/FVC values within the criteria for a 10 percent rating. The adjustment disorder prior to July 16, 2007, was rated at 10 percent due to its impact on work efficiency during periods of significant stress.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for schizoaffective disorder and injuries to the head, arm, hand, and leg. The Board found that there was no evidence of a nexus between these conditions and active duty service.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected bilateral sacroiliitis does not warrant a compensable evaluation, as there is no evidence of significant impairment in motion or other disabling symptoms.

The veteran's active duty service does not meet the eligibility criteria for VA educational assistance benefits under Chapter 32, as he did not make a timely initial enrollment in the program.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disease, specifically hydradentitis suppurativa, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability and insufficient medical evidence to establish a nexus between the condition and service.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board has determined that the overpayment of VA education benefits was not properly created due to administrative error, and therefore waives recovery of $19,012.53.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for the service-connected residuals of a stress fracture of the right leg, effective from December 11, 2000.