Other conditions Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current left eye disability did not begin during service and is not related to any incident of service, including a 1984 corneal abrasion. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's symptoms of bowel disturbance with abdominal distress, including diarrhea, align with a qualifying chronic disability manifested by inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and Crohn's disease. Resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the claimant, service connection is granted.

The Veteran's compensation was reduced to the 10 percent level for a period of incarceration from February 18, 2006, to August 17, 2006. The appellant and her two children are now entitled to an apportionment based on individual need.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and the need for a VA eye examination to determine if the Veteran's bilateral keratoconus existed prior to service, whether it worsened during service, and if so, whether such worsening was clearly and unmistakably due to natural progression or service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and consideration, including an audit of the appellant's compensation benefits account and a determination on whether the overpayment was validly created. The Committee on Waivers and Compromises will then readjudicate the waiver request with specific considerations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death was due to metastatic carcinoma, which developed more than one year after his discharge from service and is not etiologically related to service or herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that the appellant is the Veteran's child and grants her recognition as a child for purposes of receiving Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits.

The VA is remanding the case for additional development regarding burial benefits, including a plot or interment allowance. The appellant needs to provide evidence showing whether the burial expenses have been paid and who incurred those costs.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to incomplete documentation in the claims file. Specifically, there are outstanding documents related to the overpayment of disability pension benefits and a November 2008 decision regarding waiver of indebtedness that have not been associated with the claims file.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and readjudication due to insufficient information regarding the appellant's current financial status and the progress of recovery efforts.

The Veteran's claims for restoration of a 30 percent rating and resultant combined 50 percent rating, as well as his claim for higher ratings for dysthymic disorder and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional VA examinations and treatment records.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for a one-time payment from the FVEC Fund due to lack of verified service in the United States Armed Forces.

The Board has determined that the offset of the appellant's Survival Benefits Plan (SBP) payments against her retroactive Dependent's and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) payments is valid, as per VA regulations. The claim is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected non-Hodgkin's lymphoma contributed to his death from sepsis due to, or as a consequence of, peritonitis and sarcoma of the abdomen. Therefore, service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected right inguinal hernia repair and small bowel obstruction have not resulted in symptoms that warrant a higher rating under the applicable VA rating criteria.

The Veteran's claim for an increased special apportionment of his disability benefits on behalf of the Appellant and minor child H. B. was denied as there is no evidence of hardship or undue financial strain.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is denied because the treatment was not provided by a VA employee or at a VA facility, and thus does not meet the criteria for compensation.

The Board has determined that the appellant's character of discharge from service is dishonorable and therefore constitutes a bar to VA benefits.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected peptic ulcer disease did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating, as there was no evidence of active ulcers or recurrent symptoms once or twice yearly. The claim is therefore denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill or error in judgment on the part of VA in furnishing medical treatment to the Veteran. The appellant argued that negligence on the part of the Veteran's VA caregivers led to dehydration and bed sores which contributed to his death. However, there is no credible evidence supporting this claim.