Other conditions Board decisions

The Board found that there is medical evidence suggesting the veteran currently suffers from dysthymic disorder, which may have initially manifested during his active military service. The claim for service connection for dysthymic disorder was well-grounded.

The Board denied service connection for shortness of breath as a chronic disability resulting from an undiagnosed illness, finding that the veteran's symptoms were not related to his Gulf War service.

The veteran's glomerulosclerosis is being remanded for further development, including a compensation examination to rate the disability under both diagnostic codes 7502 and 7509.

The Board found no evidence to support a connection between the veteran's cardiovascular disorder and his treatment for gastrointestinal issues at VA, thus denying compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected obstructive airway disease, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation prior to October 7, 1996 and effective from October 7, 1996.

The Board found that the veteran's current jaw disability is not related to his military service, but granted service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder as secondary to his post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for extraschedular ratings for his service-connected right and left foot disabilities, finding that the schedular criteria adequately encompassed the impairment produced by these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking his death to any event or etiology in service. The appellant has not presented competent medical evidence to support her claim.

The Board found that the veteran's current eye disorders of hyperopic refractive error and presbyopia were not shown in service, and there is no competent medical evidence relating these disorders to his service. The Board also noted that exotropia and amblyopia began before service and did not increase beyond natural progression during active duty.

The Board has granted a 100 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected mood disorder and determined that the charged loan guaranty indebtedness was validly established in the amount of $12,429.86.

The Board found no competent medical evidence associating any right lower extremity disability with the service-connected left lower extremity disabilities, and thus denied the claim of secondary service connection.

The veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with depressive features and ulcer disease with hiatal hernia are currently rated at 10 percent each. The Board found that the current manifestations do not warrant a higher rating.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the veteran's postoperative residuals of distal interphalangeal joint fusion of the right ring finger, finding that the ankylosis was not unfavorable and thus did not warrant amputation.

The Board has determined that the appellant's request for waiver of recovery of an overpayment of improved death pension benefits is granted due to the financial hardship and lack of significant fault on her part in creating the overpayment.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151, finding no competent medical evidence linking his current condition to the July 1996 VA surgery.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for jungle rot of both legs and a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The veteran is already receiving compensation for his skin disability, so there is no legal merit to reopening the claim for rash or sore on both legs as being due to exposure to herbicides. The RO has been instructed to schedule a VA examination to determine the current severity of the veteran's jungle rot and to consider the issue of Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) for aid and attendance or at the housebound rate.

The Board found no evidence linking the cause of the veteran's death to his service-connected conditions or any in-service exposure, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.

The veteran's claim for service connection for loss of maxilla, loss of teeth and bone loss due to periodontal disease is granted. The claim for service connection for a disability productive of dental caries based on aggravation will be addressed in the remand section.

The veteran's claims for higher initial evaluations of her service-connected disabilities were denied. The RO found no evidence linking the current gastrointestinal disability to active service and did not find a nexus between the current gastroenteritis and previous gastroenteritis with dehydration and dyspepsia. For the other issues, the RO determined that the criteria for higher ratings were not met.

The appellant is not entitled to Dependents' Educational Assistance under Chapter 35, Title 38, United States Code beyond February 2, 1992.