Other conditions Board decisions

The Board has granted an initial disability evaluation of 10 percent for status post tenosynovectomy of the right ring finger, effective August 23, 1995.

The VA denied a compensable rating for the veteran's residuals of excision of cyst, right thigh.

The veteran's service connection claim for a musculoskeletal disability of the right leg, claimed as residuals of right calf strain, is granted. The claim for an orthopedic disability of the right foot is also granted.

The veteran's service-connected fracture residuals of his right (major) hand are no more than moderately disabling and are currently manifested by intermittent hand pain, pain on use and reduced grip strength of 4/5. The criteria for an evaluation higher than 10 percent have not been met.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 16, 1997, for nonservice-connected disability pension benefits with special monthly pension based on need for aid and attendance due to lack of notice of eligibility and inability to provide information necessary to submit a claim.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected residuals of excision of neuroma from left upper arm is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and information regarding employment impact.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder is denied as there is no competent evidence linking the current condition to his in-service rash. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD is also denied, with the existing evaluation of 30 percent considered more than adequate.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for his schizoaffective disorder and a total disability rating on the basis of unemployability due to service-connected disability, finding that his condition did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or TDIU.

The Board has determined that the veteran's eating disorder, not otherwise specified (ED-NOS), was incurred in service and is therefore granted service connection. The claim for headaches did not meet the criteria to be well-grounded.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death due to bronchogenic carcinoma, finding that there was no evidence of carcinoma in service or within one year following separation from active duty. The Board also found that there was no service-connected disability that contributed substantially or materially to the veteran's death.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive ventilatory (lung) impairment, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to service or any incident therein.

The veteran's unauthorized private hospital care from February 3 to February 4, 1998, and from February 23 to February 24, 1998 was not authorized by VA. The claim is denied as the veteran does not meet the criteria for payment or reimbursement under the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 17.120.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for service connection for myelodysplasia was not well grounded due to a lack of competent medical evidence linking the condition to his active duty service or herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the claim as there is no medical evidence linking the veteran's death to herbicide exposure or any service-connected condition.

The Board denied the appellant's request for a waiver of recovery of an overpayment of VA death pension benefits in the amount of $4,068.00 due to her failure to promptly notify the RO of the total amount of family income received from Social Security Administration.

The Board denied the veteran's request for waiver of recovery of a VA home loan guaranty indebtedness, finding that he was at fault in creating the debt and that collection would not be against equity and good conscience.

The Board determined that the burial expenses paid by the appellant for her husband's funeral should be excluded from her countable income, allowing her to receive improved death pension benefits.

The Board denied service connection for peptic ulcer disease, finding that the evidence did not support a grant of service connection based on direct or secondary service connection.

The Board has granted a higher evaluation for the veteran's service-connected right lower extremity disability, but only to account for additional manifestations of arthritis and instability. The current rating remains at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection, but it is not clear whether the condition was aggravated by active duty training. The decision remains undecided on this point.