Other conditions Board decisions

The Board has reinstated the Veteran's non-service-connected pension benefits effective February 1, 2008.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as she does not meet the eligibility requirements for MGIB education benefits under 38 C.F.R. § 21.7042.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current skin disorders did not begin during or were otherwise caused by his active service, including exposure to herbicides.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran's service-connected condition contributed to his death and to obtain a medical opinion regarding this issue.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with depressed mood warrants a disability rating of 70 percent prior to April 20, 2011.

The Board found that the appellant's discharge from service was under other than honorable conditions due to willful and persistent misconduct, which constitutes a bar to VA benefits. The appellant did not provide sufficient evidence to establish insanity during his periods of unauthorized absence.

The Veteran's actinic keratosis has not resulted in disfigurement or significant skin loss, and thus does not warrant an increased rating. The current 10% disability rating adequately reflects the severity of his condition.

The case is being remanded for additional development to verify the appellant's service and determine if they are eligible for a one-time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic tonsillitis is not shown to be manifested by hoarseness with inflammation of vocal cords or mucous membrane, and therefore does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's abdominal hernia and spinal herniated disc have been granted service connection. However, his claims for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus were denied as there is no evidence of in-service noise exposure or current disability.

The Veteran seeks service connection for chronic gastrointestinal problems that he has experienced since a February 2007 surgery. The case is being remanded to gather more information and conduct an examination.

The Board denied service connection for carcinoma of the left tonsil with metastasis to the left side of the neck and a disorder of the larynx, finding that new evidence did not establish a link between these conditions and active service. The Veteran's history of smoking was considered in determining that any resultant disorders were secondary to his primary condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for medical examinations to address his claims.

The case is being remanded due to technical issues with the previous hearing and the Veteran's request for a videoconference hearing.

The Board has determined that the appellant's character of discharge is a bar to VA benefits due to willful and persistent misconduct, but not insanity. The appeal does not involve service connection.

The Veteran seeks compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151 for injuries to his right eye resulting from cataract surgery performed in January 2008 at a VA medical facility. The case is being remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding whether any disability of the right eye was caused or permanently worsened by the VA surgical procedure and follow-up care.

The RO granted the appellant's claim for accrued nonservice-connected pension benefits in the amount of $904 based on the unreimbursed medical expenses reported on the Veteran's medical expense report for 2007.

The Board found that the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for non-service connected pension benefits was denied as there is no evidence showing continuous eligibility for Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits from September 15, 2001. The earliest effective date granted based on the facts and law in this case is February 24, 2009.

The Veteran's pension benefits were terminated due to his status as a fugitive felon, and an overpayment of $24,145.83 was created from June 6, 2008 to January 28, 2011. The appeal is REMANDED for scheduling a hearing before the Board.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's liver cancer, which caused his death in February 2006, was related to exposure to Agent Orange during service. As a result, the cause of the Veteran's death is now considered service-connected.