Other conditions Board decisions

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected residuals of a fracture of the transverse process of L-3 is being remanded due to changes in spine disability evaluation criteria and the need for additional development, including a VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of entitlement to service connection for hypertensive vascular disease and eye disability, both claimed as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and his service-connected diabetes.

The Board found no evidence of porphyria cutanea tarda during service or within one year after service, and the veteran was never diagnosed with this condition. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining service personnel records and determining if the veteran served in Korea. The cause of death claim will be reconsidered after this additional information is obtained.

The Board has denied a request for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for a bilateral foot disorder, finding that the earliest date is April 18, 2001.

The Board has determined that the veteran is competent to handle his benefit payments due to his mental incapacity, but not entitled to service connection for a psychiatric disability other than PTSD.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary prior to completion of its appellate review in this case. The veteran's service-connected disability, residuals of drusen of optic nerves, bilateral, is rated as zero percent disabled under Diagnostic Code 6026 and requires further examination for a fully informed evaluation.

The veteran's eligibility period for Chapter 30 educational benefits expired on March 17, 2002. The Board denied her request to extend the delimiting date due to lack of statutory or regulatory authority.

The veteran's claim for service connection for drowsiness is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and development. The issues of increased ratings for arthritis, cephalgia, duodenal ulcer, and TDIU are also being remanded.

The veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and his service did not meet the basic eligibility requirements for VA nonservice-connected death pension benefits.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for the cause of her husband's death and for accrued benefits due to cerebrovascular accident. The decedent died from cardio-pulmonary arrest, secondary to sepsis, nosocomial pneumonia, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory failure, and anemia, all post-service conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the veteran's employment at Perry Country Club and Pine Oaks Golf Course, which could affect whether an overpayment of Chapter 30 education benefits was properly created.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for cause of death, finding no competent evidence linking the veteran's cause of death to his military service.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability and there is no evidence of a chronic disorder in service or during the initial three post-service years. The cause of death, cardio-respiratory arrest due to bronchopneumonia, was attributed to infectious agents rather than a service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected residuals of uveitis and granulomatous iridocyclitis do not warrant a compensable evaluation, as they are manifested by best corrected distant visual acuity of only 20/30 bilaterally. The veteran's recurrent polyarthritis is also rated at its maximum allowable under the applicable rating criteria.

The Board has granted the appellant's waiver request for overpayment of VA improved death pension benefits in the amount of $3,357.00 due to financial hardship and the fact that recovery would defeat the purpose of the benefit.

The veteran's claim for a compensable evaluation for his bilateral defective hearing from the initial grant of service connection is being remanded due to new evidence showing worsening hearing acuity.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for duodenal ulcer, hyperopia of the right eye, congestive heart failure, schistosomiasis, left eye aphakia, and bronchopneumonia. The evidence submitted since the 1973 Board decision is considered new and material.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence showing a chronic form of pneumonia existed in service and did not contribute to his death from community acquired pneumonia.

The veteran's appeal is about his basic eligibility for nonservice-connected pension benefits. The case has been remanded due to the inability to produce an audible transcript of a previously scheduled hearing.