Other conditions Board decisions

The appellant's military service does not meet the threshold eligibility requirements for VA pension benefits.

The Board found that the appellant's memory loss and attention issues are due to a pre-existing learning disability, not related to his service in Southwest Asia. Therefore, he cannot be granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the appellant's ulcerative colitis warrants a 30 percent disability rating, and his initial compensable disability rating for chronic arthralgia of multiple joints prior to January 21, 2000 is maintained. The appeal regarding a higher rating for the arthritis beginning on January 21, 2000 remains pending.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for an adjustment disorder with depressed mood and a stomach disorder manifesting by diarrhea are not well grounded, as there is no competent medical evidence showing these conditions had their onset during service.

The VA determined that the veteran's current 30 percent rating for psychoneurosis is not sufficient to reflect the severity of his disability, but found no evidence supporting a higher rating under either the old or new criteria.

The Board has granted a 60 percent disability rating for residuals of pulmonary embolism effective April 1, 2000.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected bilateral flatfoot disability.

The case is being remanded to obtain additional service medical records and for further VA examination of the veteran's lower extremities.

The Board denied the veteran's request for an earlier effective date and a higher initial rating for urethral stricture.

The Board has determined that the veteran's low back disability, characterized by pronounced symptomatology including severe limitation of motion and radiculopathy, warrants a 60 percent evaluation.

The VA determined that the veteran's post gastrectomy syndrome, which is rated at 40 percent under Diagnostic Code 7308, does not warrant an increased evaluation as it only produces moderate impairment.

The veteran's permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes is granted as of July 30, 1997.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, concluding that there was no medical evidence linking the emphysema to service or a service-connected disability.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a shrapnel wound of the back is granted as there is competent evidence of current disability, in-service injury consistent with combat, and an etiological relationship between the scar and the claimed shrapnel wound.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected residuals of gunshot wound to Muscle Group XX is being remanded due to conflicting data regarding the exact location and severity of the injury. The RO must schedule a VA examination to determine these details, including whether the injury was in the thoracic or lumbar region.

The appellant is not recognized as the veteran's surviving spouse for VA benefit purposes due to her divorce from the veteran many years prior to his death.

The veteran's service-connected prostatitis with urethral stricture was granted an initial disability evaluation of 20 percent effective June 2, 1997.

The Board found insufficient evidence to support the claim of service connection for residuals of a right leg injury, as there is no current diagnosis or medical opinion linking any current disability to service.

The appellant and her family members are the proper beneficiaries of the veteran's NSLI policy, each receiving a specified percentage of its proceeds.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected left elbow injury and scarring, finding that the disability did not warrant a higher rating based on factors other than arthritis and limitation of motion.