Other conditions Board decisions

The appellant is seeking compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for additional cardiovascular disability due to a procedure involving attempted ablation of supraventricular tachycardia at the VAMC in Nashville, Tennessee, on October 9, 1998. The VA examiner concluded that the third-degree heart block and pacemaker placement are not a natural progression of the veteran's condition but were caused by a complication of his ablation procedure. The case is being remanded to obtain additional information from the VA General Counsel or the appropriate Regional Counsel regarding an open and pending claim against VA under the Federal Tort Claim Act.

The veteran's claims for increased ratings for avascular necrosis of the right hip and left hip are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a more contemporaneous examination.

The burial expenses paid by the appellant can be used to reduce her countable income for VA improved death pension benefits.

The VA determined that the appellant's nasal deviation and obstruction do not warrant a higher evaluation than the current 0 percent rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a dental disorder, joint pain, and elevated triglycerides and cholesterol. The Board found that periodontal disease was not a compensable disability under VA regulations, and there was no evidence of a current condition related to active military service or exposure to herbicides.

The veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a squamous cell carcinoma of the left soft palate and anterior tonsil pillar, to include as due to herbicide exposure, is being remanded for further development.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection of gastritis, concluding that there is no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed, including obtaining financial status reports from the veteran and appellant, inviting them to submit any pertinent evidence in their possession, ensuring all notification and development action required by the VCAA are fully complied with, and scheduling a hearing if requested.

The veteran's service-connected foot and thumb disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining or maintaining suitable employment, as he is currently employed in an occupation consistent with his abilities, aptitudes, and interests.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an eye disorder and peripheral neuritis, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his active service. The claim for earlier effective date of nonservice-connected pension benefits was also denied.

The veteran's claims for retroactive educational benefits and extension of his eligibility period were denied as he did not meet the legal requirements for such benefits.

The RO denied the appellant's petition to reopen his claim for VA disability benefits based on qualifying military service, finding that he did not have valid military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current right Achilles tendon tear or hearing loss and tinnitus that are related to his military service. Therefore, he is denied entitlement to service connection for these conditions.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for porphyria cutanea tarda, claimed as due to in-service herbicide exposure, for accrued benefits purposes.

The Board has remanded the claim for further development and readjudication due to inadequate notice under the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000 (VCAA).

The Board denied initial compensable evaluations for post-operative residuals of left and right inguinal hernias, finding no recurrence or impairment from the service-connected disabilities.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of any current right foot disability.

The RO denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected congenital fusion, C4-C5 vertebrae. The case was remanded multiple times and a 30 percent rating was assigned effective from February 7, 2004.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of myocardial infarctions secondary to his service-connected thrombophlebitis of the left leg, finding that there was no evidence showing a causal relationship between these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of chemical exposure, reopened the claim for PTSD based on new evidence, but denied both the increased rating for atopic dermatitis and the reopening of the PTSD claim.