Other conditions Board decisions

The veteran is due $1,236 in retroactive VA improved pension benefits for the year 1996.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for an extension of his delimiting date for educational assistance benefits under Chapter 1606, Title 10, United States Code because he did not meet the legal criteria for such an extension.

The veteran's service-connected gunshot wound to the back with injury to Muscle Group XX does not meet the criteria for an increased evaluation beyond 20 percent.

The veteran's claims for service connection and higher initial evaluations for various disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of a current testicle disorder, and that his other disabilities have been evaluated appropriately.

The veteran's request for a hearing before the Board has been confirmed, and his claim to reopen service connection for ventral hernia is being remanded due to his desire for a hearing.

The Board found that the veteran's duodenal ulcer disease and hypertension do not warrant an increased rating, as there is no evidence of active ulcers or severe symptoms meeting higher criteria. The current ratings for these conditions are appropriate.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his duodenal ulcer, finding that the evidence did not support ratings in excess of 10 and 20 percent.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his service-connected lower thoracic (dorsal) anterior vertebral wedging and back pain, as the evidence did not show that the disability warranted an increase beyond the current 10 percent rating.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current disability in either the right or left foot, and no evidence of a current disability in the lumbar spine. The veteran's claims for service connection have been denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected laceration of the left middle finger does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 20 percent, as it is productive of moderate disability resulting from severance of the flexor digitorum profundus tendon and some loss of range of motion.

The Board has granted a 20 percent rating for the service-connected residuals of fractures of T-6 and T-7, with post-traumatic arthritis.

The Board has restored the prior 10 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected right hernia disability, finding that there has not been an improvement in his condition.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claim that his current back disability is related to service, and denied the claim.

The Board denied the veteran's request for a waiver of recovery of an overpayment of $1,000.00 from his disability compensation benefits due to fault on both the part of the veteran and VA in creating the debt.

The veteran's adenocarcinoma of the prostate, status post radical perineal prostatectomy, with urinary incontinence has been rated at 40 percent since August 30, 2000.,The veteran's impotence is currently rated at zero percent.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date of September 20, 1998, for the payment of an additional dependency allowance for his spouse. The decision stated that the veteran failed to provide social security numbers for his dependents as required by law and regulations.

The veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder, and also raises a claim alleging clear and unmistakable error in prior rating determinations. The case is being remanded to address both issues.

The Board has granted service connection for the appellant's status post fracture of the nose and traumatic deviation of the nasal septum with epistaxis, effective from May 23, 1996. The disability is currently rated as 10 percent disabling.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not meet the qualifying service requisite for a nonservice-connected pension due to his service in the New Philippine Scouts, which is not deemed to be 'active military, naval, or air service' for purposes of eligibility for such benefits.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for disability compensation, finding that the earliest possible effective date was February 1, 1998.