Other conditions Board decisions

The Board denied the appellant's claim, finding that his character of discharge from military service is a bar to VA benefits.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for his cause of death, finding no evidence that any service-connected disability caused or contributed to his cancer.

The Board denied increased ratings for patellofemoral arthritis of the right and left knees, finding that the current evaluations (10%) are appropriate given the veteran's full range of motion with some pain.

The veteran's daughter is seeking retroactive Chapter 35 benefits for periods of enrollment prior to April 3, 1997. The Board denied the claim as the proper commencing date for the award of educational assistance benefits could not begin earlier than one year before the date her enrollment certification and application were received, or April 3, 1997.

The Board concluded that the amount withheld from the veteran's Social Security benefits to pay for child support in arrears is properly included as countable income for purposes of improved disability pension benefits.

The Board denied the veteran's appeal for service connection for poliomyelitis, finding no competent medical evidence of a current disability.

The veteran's death is being reviewed due to incomplete records and the need for further development regarding his service connection claim. Additionally, a new rating decision must be prepared addressing his dependency and indemnity compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Board found that the veteran's low back disorder, including spina bifida, spondylosis, and slight disc space narrowing of L4-L5 and L5-S1, was incurred during active service. The superimposed disease or injury resulted in a chronic disability.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not incurred in the line of duty due to his own willful misconduct and intoxication, resulting in a denial of service connection for cause of death.

The veteran's daughter is denied Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits as the appeal is based on a direct service connection and not retroactive due to VA delays in granting service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's pre-existing herniated nucleus pulposus at L5-S1 on the right existed prior to service and did not increase in severity during service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim for a permanent and total disability rating for non-service connected pension purposes was denied due to failure to report for scheduled VA examinations.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for a cardiac disorder, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not causally related to service or a service-connected disability, including his duodenal ulcer disease and chronic obstructive lung disease.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied the veteran's claim for a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes, finding that he is employed full-time at Yaffee Iron and Metal.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by his service-connected varicose veins, but rather by chronic thrombophlebitis and pulmonary embolus. The service connection for the cause of death is denied.

The Board denied an increased rating for a fracture of the right middle metacarpal, finding that there was no evidence of impairment due to pain or other functional limitations.

The veteran's back disability has been rated at 40 percent since May 21, 1999. The appeal is for increased ratings prior to that date.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for clarification regarding the veteran's desire for a hearing and to schedule such a hearing if requested.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for Gardner's syndrome with total colectomy and removal of the small intestine, finding that there was no evidence of aggravation of a preexisting congenital condition.