Other conditions Board decisions

The Board has determined that the veteran's bilateral knee condition, specifically chronic synovitis, began during active service and is not a result of any pre-existing condition. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The veteran's appeal is to determine if the entire profit from selling his house can be considered income for improved pension purposes. The case has been remanded due to unclear information about the legal separation and support contributions.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right eye aphakia and left patella fracture residuals require additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to assess the severity of these conditions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for original compensable ratings for residuals of shell fragment wounds to his left triceps, parathoracic area, and buttock. The RO previously granted service connection for these conditions but assigned noncompensable ratings.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the veteran's duodenal ulcer from November 15, 1972 to June 23, 1993.

The veteran's claim for an effective date prior to September 25, 1998, for a grant of service connection for a compression fracture of T12 is denied.

The veteran is seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a stomach infection resulting from VA surgery in 1995, but the RO has not obtained all necessary medical records and consent forms to fully evaluate his claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 10 percent disability rating for varicose veins, right leg. The issue of service connection for residuals of phlebitis of the left leg is addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication, including obtaining a legal opinion on the validity of the loan guaranty indebtedness and entitlement to retroactive release of liability.

The Board found that the veteran's left hand disorder, which involves some limitation of range of motion and weakness, does not more closely resemble unfavorable ankylosis of the 4th and 5th fingers. Therefore, his claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent was denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's disability of the left hip, after December 1, 1997, warrants a rating of 30 percent. The current extent of his total hip replacement residuals is considered adequate for compensation purposes.

The veteran's claim for authorization of fee-based care is denied as he does not have a service-connected disability that would qualify him for such benefits.

The Board has determined that the veteran's compression fracture deformity at L3 vertebra and right fourth toe disability do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating, thus denying both claims.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected right hand disability and right thumb disability, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating than what was currently assigned.

The Board denied the appellant's request to waive recovery of overpayment of non-service connected pension benefits, including special monthly compensation for regular aid and attendance due to his bad faith in not reporting income.

The veteran's death was caused by a sudden cardiac event, not related to the head trauma or subdural hematoma resulting from his fall at the VA medical center. The Board found that the preponderance of evidence does not support service connection for the cause of death.

The veteran's unauthorized non-VA hospitalization for a myocardial infarction in November 1989 was not covered by VA because prior authorization was not obtained, and the treatment did not meet the legal criteria for payment or reimbursement under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the veteran's nevoid telangiectasia, a skin disorder, was incurred during his active service.

The Board found that the cause of death, sudden coronary occlusion due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, was not caused by or a result of service-connected conditions. The appellant's assertions regarding pre-service heart problems and treatment within one year after separation were deemed insufficient evidence.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected spontaneous pneumothorax, postoperative disability, as there is no evidence that it results in symptoms warranting a higher rating under VA's schedular criteria.