Other conditions Board decisions

The veteran's claim for nonservice-connected disability pension benefits was denied by the RO. The RO also found that his current claim was not entitled to special monthly pension due to income from Social Security Administration.

The Board denied the veteran's request to restore his 306 pension benefits, finding that his income exceeded the maximum allowable limit.

The veteran's right fifth finger disability is currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that it does not warrant a higher rating as there is no evidence of interference with functioning of other digits or the hand.

The veteran is seeking an increased evaluation for his service-connected status post aortic valve replacement. The Board has remanded the case to ensure compliance with instructions set forth in the October 1999 remand, and to obtain additional evidence.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current disability associated with hammertoe of the right foot that was incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for loss of teeth resulting from dental injury during service, as there was no evidence of such an injury. The case was remanded to consider whether the veteran is eligible for VA outpatient dental treatment based on his application received after discharge.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the thoracic spine and denied a compensable evaluation for pneumonia.

The Board finds that the veteran's post-operative heart condition did not exist prior to service and was not aggravated during service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder and an increased rating for his service-connected psychoneurosis neurasthenia with a superimposed personality disorder, finding no evidence of chronic residuals from an inservice episode of furuncles and noting that the veteran failed to report for a scheduled VA examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for gout, finding that there is no current disability and insufficient evidence to establish a link between the condition and service.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected occipital scalp hidradenitis, currently evaluated at 30 percent. The condition is characterized by a severely disfiguring scar on the occipital scalp with no active lesions or systemic manifestations.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder and a deviated nasal septum, finding new and material evidence in support of these claims. Service connection is granted for both conditions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right eye disorder was not incurred or aggravated by active military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to May 8, 1996, for a 50 percent disability rating for his service-connected pulmonary histoplasmosis and right lung nodule was denied as the earliest date as of which it is factually ascertainable that an increase in disability occurred was May 8, 1996.

The Board found that the veteran's death was caused or materially affected by VA medical treatment, specifically a failure to diagnose and treat his preexisting condition of transitional cell carcinoma in the left ureter. This decision grants dependency and indemnity compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed as he withdrew his appeal during the hearing before the Board.

The veteran's application for reimbursement of medical expenses incurred outside the VA health care system was denied because he did not meet the criteria for authorized or unauthorized medical care. The denial was based on his lack of established service-connected disabilities and other eligibility requirements.

The Board found no medical evidence linking the veteran's claimed conditions to his military service, including exposure to Agent Orange or his service-connected PTSD. Therefore, the claims for service connection were denied.

The Board denied the appellant's claim as she did not continuously live with the veteran after their separation, which was due to her own fault and not the veteran's misconduct.

The March 1998 rating decision was not final at the time of a September 1998 rating decision, and thus the issue of clear and unmistakable error in that rating decision is dismissed.