Other conditions Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's emphysema due to nicotine dependence should be reduced from a 60% evaluation to a 30% evaluation, effective November 1, 2000.

The veteran's claim for educational assistance benefits prior to April 7, 1999 is denied as the earliest permissible commencing date is one year before the date of his application.

The Board denied the veteran's request to waive recovery of an overpayment of improved disability pension benefits, finding that collection would not violate principles of equity and good conscience.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Meridia Hillcrest Hospital due to the availability of feasible VA care.

The Board denied service connection for arthritis of the hands as there was no current disability and no evidence of a disease or injury resulting in this condition during service.

The Board granted a 60 percent rating for the service-connected sickle cell disease (SCD) effective July 17, 2000.

The Board denied a compensable rating for functional bowel syndrome and did not address service connection for hiatal hernia.

The veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant before a decision was made.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a higher rating for residuals of a right inguinal hernioplasty, finding that his service-connected disability did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's waiver of recovery of loan guaranty indebtedness, plus interest due to fault on his part in creating the debt and lack of undue hardship resulting from repayment.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for right patella traumatic arthritis, residual of a fracture, currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling.

The veteran's claim for continued benefits for their child beyond age 23 is denied as the law does not permit payments after a child reaches 23 years of age.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a permanent and total rating for pension purposes due to his failure to report for VA examinations scheduled in March 2001, without good cause.

The Board denied service connection for malaria, finding that the veteran does not currently suffer from this condition.

The Board finds that the veteran's current residuals of frozen feet, including numbness and temperature sensitivity, are due to a cold injury sustained during service. By extending the benefit of the doubt to the veteran, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board found that the veteran's L5-S1 spondylolisthesis with strain does not meet or approximate the criteria for a disability rating greater than 20 percent.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a right eye injury due to new medical evidence showing current choroidal ruptures in the right eye. The appeal is granted.

The Board found that the veteran does not have peptic ulcer disease, and thus denied her claim of entitlement to service connection for this condition.

The veteran's overpayment of VA improved pension benefits in the amount of $1,672.00 is waived due to severe financial hardship and the fact that recovery would defeat the purpose for which benefits were intended.