Other conditions Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to incomplete medical records and an inadequate examination. The Veteran needs a new dental examination to address his claims.

The Veteran's solar lentigo, affecting exposed areas of the body prior to August 30, 2002, is rated at 10 percent under Diagnostic Code 7823. The appeal for a higher initial rating in excess of 10 percent from August 30, 2002, forward, is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a new VA examination to address whether the Veteran's duodenal ulcer is related to service and whether PTSD caused or aggravated it.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lung disorder is not related to his military service, including exposure to asbestos and Agent Orange. The most persuasive evidence does not link any current lung disorder to his active duty.

The Veteran's schizoaffective disorder resulted in significant occupational and social impairment prior to March 7, 2011, warranting a disability rating of 70 percent.

The Board found that the appellant failed to submit a timely Notice of Disagreement (NOD) within one year from the date of notification of the March and April 2000 decisions, which denied her claims for service connection for cause of the Veteran's death and entitlement to DIC. As such, the appeal was dismissed.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, as it has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Board has remanded the case due to the Veteran's claim of worsening since a July 2010 VA examination, and ordered that he be scheduled for a VA examination to determine the current severity of his right thigh and right forearm disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rate of educational assistance under the Post-9/11 GI Bill was denied because he did not meet the legal requirements, specifically having less than 36 months of qualifying service after September 10, 2001.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for waiver of recovery of an overpayment of $4,671 in his nonservice-connected pension benefits due to fault on the part of the Veteran and no evidence showing VA was at fault. The decision also noted that repayment would not be against the standards of equity and good conscience.

The Veteran is entitled to reimbursement for the remaining $40.00 of his examination fee after he was previously reimbursed $225.00, as the SAA approved the exam at a lower rate than what the Veteran paid.

The Board is remanding the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and VA treatment records. The Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection claim will be reconsidered.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current right thumb and wrist disability, diagnosed as a sprain of the first metacarpal trapezial joint of the right thumb, did not manifest in active service and is not otherwise etiologically related to his active service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a disability manifested by shortness of breath or sore throat separate from his service-connected ischemic heart disease. Therefore, he is denied service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's initial compensable evaluation for residuals of a fracture to the left scapula is granted, with a rating of 20 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for scheduling a Board hearing. The issue remains unresolved and requires further action.

The Board found that the Veteran's arthroplasty of the left fifth toe was less likely than not incurred in or caused by her military service, and denied her claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right knee, left knee, and right hip disabilities are related to service. The current diagnoses of chondromalacia and degenerative joint disease in the right knee, osteoarthritis and degenerative joint disease in the left knee, and a currently diagnosed right hip disability have all been found to be related to service.

The Veteran's request for waiver of overpayment was not timely, and the claim is denied.

The Board granted a 20 percent rating for the service-connected fracture, right mandible disability effective July 28, 2005. The Veteran's increased ratings claims remain in controversy.