Other conditions Board decisions

The Board denied the appellant's claim of basic eligibility for VA death benefits because her husband did not have qualifying service as a veteran, based on certifications from the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) that he had no valid military service in the Armed Forces of the United States.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left hip injury, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating based on the current evidence of record.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the veteran's right flank wound. The claim of service connection for status post right nephrectomy is also being addressed.

The Board has determined that the appellant's other-than-honorable discharge from service constitutes a bar to VA benefits.

The Board found that the veteran did not exhibit bad faith in creating the overpayment of pension benefits, and therefore waived recovery of the $2,204 overpayment. The case is now remanded to consider whether recovery would be against equity and good conscience.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for Chapter 35 educational benefits as she was over the age of 26 and did not meet the eligibility criteria based on her father's death or permanent total service-connected disability.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verification of dates and circumstances of observation by a fellow service member at Camp O'Donnell. The veteran's cause of death is being considered based on new evidence.

The Board has ordered the RO to remand this case for additional development, including obtaining terminal hospital records and ensuring proper representation. The appeal is currently in a pending state.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected serous otitis media of the right ear is being remanded to allow further development, including consideration of whether an extraschedular rating is warranted due to marked interference with employment and frequent hospitalizations.

The Board has granted service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) based on combat exposure during active duty. The veteran's other claims for stomach condition and bilateral hearing loss are not addressed in this decision.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for increased improved death pension benefits based on unreimbursed medical expenses, finding that there was no evidence in the file at the time of her death that would have permitted entitlement to an increase in improved death pension benefits due to impossible prospective estimation of future medical expenses.

The VA determined that there is no evidence linking the veteran's claimed disability of the left hand and fingers to his service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his back disability.

The Board has granted a rating of 30 percent for the veteran's service-connected chronic enteritis, finding that his symptoms meet the criteria for this level of disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have any residuals of a staphylococcus infection of the right lower extremity, and therefore compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 are denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's disability of the left leg, specifically Muscle Group XI, warrants a 10 percent rating. The veteran's condition is characterized by retained metallic fragments, some degree of intramuscular scarring, and slight loss of muscle softness around the area of the scar.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher ratings for his L1 fracture with myalgia and thoracic injury with myalgia, finding that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 30 percent or 10 percent, respectively.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for earlier effective dates for his service-connected right thigh, lower leg, and foot disabilities. The Board found that the reductions in evaluations were not final due to lack of appeal, and that there was no evidence showing an increase in severity within one year prior to the April 7, 1998 claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further action, including verification of military service and a determination on the veteran's eligibility for educational benefits under Chapter 1606 and Chapter 32. The RO must ensure that all relevant evidence is considered and that the veteran is provided with proper notice.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development regarding the creation of an overpayment. The veteran must provide a report of unreimbursed medical expenses paid in 2000 for consideration.