Other conditions Board decisions

The Board found that the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether the veteran's cerebrovascular accident and postoperative pacemaker implant are related to his service-connected mitral valve annuloplasty. The decision grants service connection for both conditions.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151, finding that his claimed diffuse musculoskeletal pains involving the entire spine and extremities were not proximately caused by a flu shot provided at a VAMC in October 1998.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has decided in favor of the veteran, granting service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The decision is based on evidence that supports a direct link between the veteran's military service and his PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication due to conflicting opinions on the etiology of the veteran's current visual impairment.

The veteran's request for a waiver of recovery of an overpayment in the amount of $9,690.41 was denied due to findings of bad faith and fault.

The Board has found that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for right leg ulcers. The Board also determined that the veteran's current right leg ulcers are related to his military service, thus granting the claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of multiple joints, finding no evidence linking his current condition to his military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain medical records and VCAA compliance, including obtaining Social Security Administration and Massachusetts Department of Social Services records. The appeal will be remanded for further action.

The veteran's death was not considered to be service-connected, and the appellant did not file a timely application for accrued benefits.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for an eye disorder, finding new and material evidence that supports a possible link to his military service. The issue of assigning a disability rating will be addressed in the remand portion.

The Board found that no new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim of service connection for Bartter's syndrome. The RO has since denied reopening the claim, but additional evidence may be considered in the future.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for defective vision of the right eye is denied as there was no new and material evidence submitted to reopen the previously denied left eye claim. The RO will now consider this issue on a de novo basis.

The veteran's claims for service connection for basal cell carcinoma and multiple joint arthritis were denied as there was no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.,Service connection for residuals of frostbite, prostate cancer, varus osteoarthritis in the left knee, and varus osteoarthritis in the right knee status post replacement were not addressed due to lack of relevant claims.

The case is being remanded due to missing documentation and incomplete information regarding the veteran's second marriage and dependency changes.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his upper back disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The service connection issue related to spinal stenosis of L4-L5 remains unresolved.

The Board found that a timely Substantive Appeal was not filed with respect to the denial of compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151, and thus lacks jurisdiction to consider the appeal on its merits.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA medical records and a waiver of preliminary RO review of new evidence.

The veteran's filariasis is currently manifested as an active disease, and the Board has granted a 100 percent rating for this condition.

The Board has granted a separate 10 percent evaluation for right knee instability and an additional 10 percent evaluation for limitation of motion, effective from October 2002. The veteran's service-connected right knee disability is now rated at 20 percent overall.

The Board has determined that the veteran's marriage to S.K.M. is valid for VA purposes, based on his consistent testimony and the absence of evidence of a prior marriage.