Other conditions Board decisions

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of special monthly compensation (SMC) for loss of a creative organ is denied. The Board found that entitlement to SMC arose prior to April 10, 1997, and thus the earliest possible effective date would be April 10, 1997.

The Board has deferred the decision on service connection for gum disease pending additional development. The case is now being remanded to the RO for consideration of all evidence, including a March 2003 VA dental examination.

The Board dismissed the claim as there was no legal basis for service connection due to the absence of active military duty at the time of the hernia repair.

The Board has determined that W.C. is recognized as the veteran's dependent spouse for VA benefits purposes, based on the validity of his marriage to J.R. and subsequent marriage to W.C., which was valid under Philippine law.

The Board has determined that the veteran's varicocele of the left testicle developed during service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's right Achilles tendon rupture, finding that it is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected lumbar disc disease at L4-L5.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for Crohn's disease, finding that there is no evidence linking the condition to his active duty training.

The veteran's recognized service does not constitute active military service for purposes of VA non-service-connected pension benefits, and therefore the claim is denied.

The Board has determined that the evidence submitted since the December 1980 RO decision is not new and material, thus denying the veteran's attempts to reopen his claims for service connection for an emotionally unstable personality disorder.

The veteran's appeal is about the current disability rating for his service-connected gastrointestinal disorder. The case has been remanded to allow the RO to consider additional evidence and readjudicate the issue.

The veteran's skin disorders, including an epidermal cyst of the neck and dermatophytosis of the groin and back, are service-connected. The Board granted increased evaluations for these conditions.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of his death.

The VA has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the veteran's claim for service connection for osteomyelitis of the left lower extremity.

The veteran's claims for service connection for shortness of breath and an initial evaluation in excess of 20 percent for arthralgia of multiple joints, with fatigue and intermittent nausea and diarrhea, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of chronic disability manifested by shortness of breath or constant, refractory symptoms warranting a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's peptic ulcer disease was incurred during service and is granted service connection. The increased evaluation for left sciatica remains unchanged.

The veteran's appeal for waiver of recovery of an overpayment of VA educational benefits in the amount of $288.16 was dismissed due to her failure to keep VA informed as to her whereabouts and to appear for a scheduled hearing.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for compensation benefits pursuant to 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for residuals of right foot surgery, finding no additional disability resulting from VA treatment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for colon cancer and ulcerative colitis, as well as his attempts to reopen claims for hypertension, prostatitis, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including a nervous condition and insomnia), all related to ionizing radiation exposure. The evidence did not support these claims.

The Board found that the veteran's right little finger disability did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation under the old or revised schedular criteria. The claim for service connection for PTSD was also denied as there were no credible in-service stressors.

The Board has determined that the overpayment of VA death pension benefits was solely due to administrative error by VA, and thus not validly created. As a result, the appeal is granted.