Other conditions Board decisions

The veteran's claim for educational benefits under the Veterans Education Assistance Program (Chapter 32) was denied due to a lack of confirmation of a payment made in September 1998. The case is being remanded for further investigation and consideration.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claims of a heart attack and cardiovascular disorders during or as a result of his military service. The preponderance of medical evidence does not indicate these conditions were incurred in service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for spondylosis, claimed as a bad back, finding no competent medical evidence linking his current disability to service.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits, finding that her September 1972 remarriage to W.P. reinstated her DIC benefits, which were subsequently terminated upon each subsequent divorce. The appellant filed a new application in August 2000 after J.C.'s death, but the RO did not assign an earlier effective date.

The Board found that the veteran's additional left knee disability was not incurred or aggravated by service, and is not proximately due to a service-connected disability.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected seronegative spondyloarthropathy does not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating, as there is no evidence of constitutional symptoms, severe impairment of health, or incapacitating exacerbations occurring four or more times a year.

The Board has determined that the veteran's dysthymia is productive of definite social and industrial impairment, warranting a rating of 30 percent.

The veteran is seeking a higher evaluation for his service-connected schizoid features with depressive overlay, which was initially granted at 10 percent in April 1996. The Board has remanded the case to the RO for additional development due to the veteran's incarceration and missing medical records.

The Board has granted service connection for an elevated right hemidiaphragm due to partial paralysis of the phrenic nerve. The veteran's PTSD claim is remanded for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service personnel records and medical records from M. Allison, M.D., as well as records of the veteran's terminal hospitalization at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center.

The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of hunter rod reconstruction of the left fourth finger meet the criteria for a 10 percent rating, taking into account pain and functional impairment comparable to amputation.

The Board found that the appellant did not have the required military service to be eligible for VA benefits and denied his claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of a stress fracture of the left third metatarsal are rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating available under Diagnostic Code 5284. The claim for an increased evaluation is denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current peripheral vascular disease of the lower extremities is secondary to cold injury during service, and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and evaluation of the veteran's right forearm shell fragment injury residuals, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination to assess the severity of his disability.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits, finding that he did not meet the basic service eligibility requirements to entitle him to such benefits.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for a bilateral eye disability, finding that his currently diagnosed bilateral macular degeneration is not related to an in-service injury and thus not incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board determined that the veteran did not meet the basic eligibility requirements for VA educational assistance benefits under Chapter 30, Title 38, United States Code due to his discharge being a general discharge rather than an honorable one. As such, the claim was denied.

The Board denied the appellant's claim as he does not have qualifying military service to establish eligibility for VA benefits.

The veteran's income exceeded the maximum annual rate for a single individual, thus denying his claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits.