Other conditions Board decisions

The veteran's esophageal cancer was not service-connected, and the cause of death was not due to a service-connected disability. The appellant is not eligible for Survivors'/Dependents' Educational Assistance.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected post traumatic encephalopathy with right hemiparesis was granted, but the rating remains at 60 percent.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking the esophageal cancer to his military service or exposure to Agent Orange.

The veteran's granddaughter is not considered a dependent child for the purpose of calculating his VA nonservice-connected disability pension benefits, as she does not meet the legal definition of a dependent child under VA regulations.

The Board found that the veteran's urinary incontinence and recurrent UTI's were not caused by her February 1990 hysterectomy, thus denying her claim under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

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

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the appellant's claim of eligibility for Department of Veterans Affairs benefits, as her late husband was determined to have no valid military service.

The Board denied the veteran's eligibility for nonservice-connected death pension benefits and his claim for accrued benefits due to lack of service-connected disabilities at the time of his death, and because he did not have a pending claim at the time of his death.

The Board denied the veteran's request for a waiver of recovery of overpayments totaling $9,200 in VA improved disability pension benefits. The decision found that the veteran was at fault for underreporting his income and not providing requested financial information, but also noted that collection would result in undue hardship on him.

The Board found that the veteran's S. pneumoniae sepsis complicated with meningitis and epidural abscess formation was not a result of his VA hospitalization, thus denying his claim for disability benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board found that the veteran's claimed head injury in service was not verified and his current residuals of a head injury are not related to service. Therefore, service connection for residuals of a head injury is denied.

The Board has determined that the proceeds of the veteran's NSLI policy should be distributed according to his October 1979 beneficiary designation, which lists S.D.C. as the principal beneficiary and specifies she is entitled to one-fourth of the proceeds. The RO&IC awarded equal shares of the proceeds to S.D.C., E.R.F., A.V.G., and the estate of the veteran. M.E.M.'s share was awarded to the estate due to lack of evidence confirming her death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's TMJ syndrome is due to service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied a compensable evaluation for Reiter's syndrome, finding no current manifestations of the condition.

The veteran's panic disorder with psychophysiological cardiovascular reaction has been rated at 50 percent since June 14, 1991.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral otitis media is manifested by frequent episodes of suppuration, which meets the criteria for a 10 percent rating.

The veteran's claim for reimbursement or payment of the cost of private ambulance service to a VA medical center on March 14, 1998 was denied because his income exceeded the maximum annual rate of pension which would be payable if he were eligible for pension.

The Board has granted a 30 percent evaluation for the veteran's right tibial fracture, effective from the date of claim.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the veteran's service-connected right little finger disorder, finding that the evidence did not warrant an extraschedular evaluation and that the current noncompensable rating was appropriate.

The VA denied a request for an increased disability rating for the veteran's shell fragment wound to muscle group XIII of the right posterior thigh, currently rated at 30 percent.