Other conditions Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for her service-connected status post total hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy, finding that the schedular evaluation was adequate and no extraschedular evaluation was warranted.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder, finding no evidence of a chronic disease in service or within the presumptive period due to herbicide exposure. The examiner opined that the current skin condition is not related to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected fracture of the right fifth metacarpal, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating than the initial 10 percent assigned.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection of stricture of the urethra and granted an effective date earlier than November 25, 1991, for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.,Special monthly compensation based on housebound status or need for regular aid and attendance is not addressed in this decision.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for malaria, as the veteran's assertions were consistent with previous claims. The evidence did not show a recurrence of malaria during service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a cardiovascular disorder, finding no evidence of a nexus between his current heart disease and his in-service episode of glomerulonephritis. The Board also found that the veteran's postservice heart condition did not manifest within one year after separation from service.

The Board found that the appellant was not entitled to payment for a course with a non-punitive grade, and thus the retroactive reduction in her Chapter 35 benefits was proper.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and a separate rating for multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities, finding that his service-connected auditory canal disease did not meet criteria for compensation.

The Board denied the veteran's request for waiver of recovery of an overpayment of improved disability pension benefits in the amount of $28,520 due to his demonstrated bad faith in creating the overpayment.

The Board found that the veteran's default on a VA-guaranteed mortgage resulted in an indebtedness of $25,000. The decision granted waiver of recovery of this debt.

The Board denied an extension of the delimiting date for educational assistance benefits under Chapter 35, Title 38 of the United States Code because the appellant's circumstances did not prevent her from using education benefits prior to February 1991.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability or one which may be presumed to have been incurred in service. The cause of death, myocardial infarction due to coronary thrombosis, was attributed to pulmonary fibrosis, which had an unknown etiology and predated service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of July 30, 1990 for service connection of a psychophysiological gastrointestinal disorder (PPGID). The decision stated that the earliest possible effective date was July 30, 1990 based on the reopening and granting of his claim.

The Board determined that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for a right inguinal hernia, thus denying the reopening of the claim.

The Board denied the appellant's request for waiver of recovery of an overpayment of VA pension benefits, finding that it was not received in a timely manner.

The Board denied the appellant's claim of entitlement to service connection for the cause of her deceased husband's death, finding that his death in May 1991 was not due to a service-connected disability.

The Board found that the veteran's current hematuria is not related to his service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's herniated nucleus pulposus with spinal fusion at L4-L5 warrants a 60 percent disability rating, which is the maximum available under Diagnostic Code 5293.

The Board found that the veteran currently does not have active malaria or any residuals of prior episodes of malaria, and there is no evidence of relapse within the past year. The current examination did not identify any residual disabilities from previous malaria infection.

The Board has granted a disability rating of 20 percent for the veteran's thoracic spine disability, which is the maximum available under the applicable diagnostic codes. The veteran had a compression fracture of one of his midthoracic vertebral bodies with associated degenerative changes and deformity.