Other conditions Board decisions

The Veteran's service-connected left tarsal tunnel syndrome is currently rated at 10 percent, and the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's eye disability did not originate in active service or for many years thereafter, and is not related to any incident of such service or proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability. Therefore, service connection for an eye disability, claimed as macular degeneration with blurred vision, is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected GI reaction and psychophysiological disability, manifested by chronic pain syndrome, have been granted increased ratings.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for cold injury residuals of his hands and feet are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's service-connected thoracic spine disability, finding that there was no evidence linking his left leg neurological impairment to his service-connected condition.

The case is being remanded for the Veteran to attend a Travel Board hearing at the RO.

The Veteran's cause of death was determined to be due to pancreatic cancer, which the Board found was incurred in service. As a result, his surviving spouse is granted service connection for the cause of his death.

The Veteran's shortness of breath and chest pain are presumed to be related to his service in the Persian Gulf, resulting from an undiagnosed illness.

The Board finds that the Veteran's arthritis of the bilateral great toes is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue was not found to be service-connected due to lack of evidence linking it to his military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's right thumb disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds no basis to grant a higher rating based on the evidence of record.

The Board found that the Veteran's subdural hematoma was not etiologically related to service and was not proximately caused by or permanently worsened by his service-connected left femur disability.

The Veteran's heart disability, characterized by an ejection fraction of more than 50 percent and no episodes of congestive heart failure, was rated at 30% from May 27, 2005 to July 2, 2009. As of January 2, 2013, the disability warranted a higher rating of 60%. The Veteran's limitation in activity level due to his heart condition is attributed to his service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal to challenge the July 1970 rating decision for service connection of a psychosis has been dismissed as it is subsumed in the December 2001 Board decision.

The Board has determined that the appellant's discharge from service was due to willful and persistent misconduct, which constitutes a bar to receiving VA benefits.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as the appellant withdrew it prior to a decision being made.

The Board denied the appellant's request for an earlier effective date for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits, finding that July 20, 2005 is the appropriate effective date based on the facts of the case.

The appellant's deceased spouse did not file a claim for benefits within one year following the enactment of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which provided for a one-time payment from the FVEC fund. As a result, the appellant's claim is denied.

The Veteran's request for waiver of overpayment of nonservice-connected disability pension benefits was denied because the fault lies with the Veteran, who failed to report his income and unemployment compensation. Recovery would not be against equity and good conscience.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for an earlier effective date for Chapter 33 education benefits, stating that the service department did not approve a transfer of benefits until March 2011. The Board found that equitable relief could not be granted as it is not within its jurisdiction.