Other conditions Board decisions

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for service-connected bilateral defective hearing is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA audiometric examination and review of his claims folder.

The Board has ordered the VA Medical Center to complete additional development regarding whether the veteran had mandatory eligibility for VA hospital care under a specific statute. The case is now remanded for further adjudication.

The Board denied the appellant's waiver of recovery of loan guaranty indebtedness, finding that collection would not be against equity and good conscience due to fault on the part of the appellant.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for recognition as his surviving spouse, finding that he and the appellant did not continuously cohabit from 1983 until his death in 1991. The decision also noted that the appellant sought apportionment of the veteran's VA compensation on behalf of their children, which indicated they were living apart.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for multiple myeloma due to exposure to Agent Orange as his claim was not well-grounded.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for post-operative residuals of a brain tumor, finding that there was no positive association between Agent Orange exposure and the development of the brain tumor. The evidence did not support a presumption of service connection based on herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected postoperative residuals of a left inguinal herniorrhaphy and postoperative residuals of a left varicocelectomy do not warrant an increased rating as they are currently rated.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claim for service connection for the cause of her husband's death is not well-grounded, and thus denied.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected Reiter's syndrome, currently rated at 40 percent.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the veteran's service-connected residuals of a fracture of the right great toe, effective from June 8, 1998. The claimant also received secondary service connection for hallux vagus of the right foot.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a back injury, finding that new and material evidence had not been presented. The decision is based on the lack of medical evidence linking the current low back disorder to injuries during service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected right little finger fracture residuals do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating, as they are not shown to be productive of bony deformity or related functional limitation of a compensable degree.

The Board denied reimbursement for unauthorized medical services provided by Triangle Laboratories due to the absence of a medical emergency and the lack of feasibility of VA facilities being available.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for a right femoral hernia, claimed as secondary to his service-connected postoperative residuals of a right inguinal hernia, is not well grounded. The evaluation in excess of 10 percent for postoperative residuals of a right inguinal hernia also failed to meet the criteria.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current left eye disability is not related to his service, and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a higher evaluation for his service-connected residuals of an abdominal stab wound, finding that the condition did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 40 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a generalized skin rash and a skin disorder with blisters as a result of exposure to Agent Orange. The veteran was granted noncompensable evaluations for Osgood-Schlatter's disease of both knees.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD is well grounded. The RO will attempt to verify the veteran's claimed in-service stressors and schedule him for a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board determined that the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death is not well-grounded due to a lack of competent evidence linking any condition to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for post-traumatic-stress-disorder (PTSD) due to a lack of credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressors actually occurred.