Other conditions Board decisions

The Board has granted a 60 percent rating for the service-connected residuals of a lung injury due to a shell fragment wound in service, effective from October 28, 2003.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current diagnosis for the veteran's claimed right and left hand disabilities, and thus service connection cannot be granted.

The VA denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his multiple wounds of the abdomen with scars and muscle group injury, finding no evidence of limitation or other compensable conditions.

The Board found that neither A.C.G. nor M.A.H. could be recognized as the veteran's surviving spouse, and denied A.C.G.'s claim.

The veteran's appeal for a higher rating for chronic relapsing polychondritis was denied.,The veteran also sought an earlier effective date for his total disability rating based on individual unemployability, which was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's diagnosed periodontal disease and gingivitis are not disabilities for VA compensation purposes, thus denying service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and adjudication due to conflicting medical evidence regarding whether the veteran's conditions existed prior to service.

The Board has determined that the appellant is not the veteran's surviving spouse for purposes of dependency and indemnity compensation benefits due to a valid divorce prior to the veteran's death, with no continuous cohabitation from marriage until his death.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for right inguinal hernia and repair, finding that there was no objective evidence showing a hernia or injury during active duty. The Board also found that the hernia did not increase in severity during service.

The veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected post-operative residuals of left orchiectomy and hernia repair, as well as his initial evaluation for left ilio-inguinal nerve entrapment, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating under the applicable VA disability rating criteria.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete records and a need for further examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to April 4, 2002 for a 10% evaluation for conjunctivitis with blepharitis. The RO had previously granted this evaluation in July 2002.

The veteran's L4-5 herniated disc, status post decompression discectomy, is due to an injury incurred in service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 90 percent rating for bilateral keratoconus, finding that there was no factually ascertainable increase in disability prior to October 11, 2002.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, finding no evidence of exposure to herbicides or radiation in service and concluding that her cancer is not related to military service.

The appellant's service is not recognized for VA benefits due to lack of qualifying service, and the Board finds him ineligible.

The Board found that the veteran's overpayment of educational assistance benefits was properly created, as she withdrew from her courses before the end of the approved enrollment period.

The veteran's overpayment of VA pension benefits was denied due to the veteran's failure to report his receipt of increased Social Security benefits and his son's receipt of Social Security benefits. The VA is not at fault for this portion of the overpayment.

The veteran's request for waiver of recovery of an overpayment of VA pension benefits in the amount of $16,041 was timely filed. The claim is therefore granted.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for additional compensation for his dependent spouse was denied as he did not provide the required Social Security number for his wife, which is a requirement under VA regulations.