Other conditions Board decisions

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the appellant does not meet the eligibility criteria for nonservice-connected pension benefits due to a lack of active military service.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right hip, finding that it was aggravated by the veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the left knee.

The veteran is seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for pulmonary emboli due to thrombophlebitis, claimed as a result of VA medical treatment in July 1999 and November 2000. The case is being remanded for further development including obtaining all relevant VA medical records and scheduling the veteran for a VA examination.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's death, and thus had no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of her claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected abdominal cicatrix, finding that it no longer exists and was excised during a cholecystectomy in 1994. The veteran's scar is currently rated as 0% disabling.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for DIC under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. � 1318 due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an initial compensable evaluation for residuals of syphilis, finding no current manifestations of the condition and concluding that any existing disabilities are not related to service-connected syphilis.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability of the left chest and concluded that it was not incurred in service. The issue regarding degenerative joint disease of both knees will be addressed in the Remand section.

The Board found that the appellant's disorder, which manifests as syncopal episodes, has not met the criteria for a higher initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent.

The veteran seeks an increased evaluation for service-connected angioneurotic edema/cold urticaria. The case is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and conducting VA examinations.

The Board denied increased evaluations for the veteran's service-connected wrist and hand disabilities, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The appellant is not a child of the deceased veteran for VA death benefits purposes due to his age and thus does not meet eligibility criteria.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected left hip dislocation, finding that the disability did not warrant an evaluation in excess of 20 percent.

The veteran's claim for increased ratings was granted, with the right elbow synovitis rated at 20 percent effective March 12, 1999 and a gunshot wound to the diaphragm with injury to the right lobe of the liver rated at 30 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for lumbago with a history of injury due to his failure to report for a VA examination scheduled in conjunction with his claim.

The Board has granted a waiver of recovery for an overpayment of $8,313 in pension benefits due to the veteran's financial hardship and foreclosure proceedings against his home.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected jaw condition is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and treatment records.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not received to reopen the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychophysiological gastrointestinal reaction, seizure disorder, and nervous disorder (to include schizophrenia).

The veteran's service-connected cold injury residuals and peptic ulcer disease are not currently considered disabling enough to prevent him from obtaining or maintaining employment. Further examination is needed to determine the impact of these conditions on his employability.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a nervous disability is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a video hearing.