Other conditions Board decisions

The Board found that the appellant intentionally and wrongfully caused the death of her veteran husband, resulting in a denial of basic eligibility for DIC benefits.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues with communication and the appellant not receiving important documents. The appeal is now pending for further development.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature, extent, and etiology of any left upper extremity disability.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to determine if he requires the aid and attendance of another person due to his eye disorders, which may affect his eligibility for special monthly pension. The nonservice-connected pension claim must also be remanded as income levels exceed the maximum annual pension rate.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for multiple myeloma and MGUS, finding that there was no current diagnosis of either condition and that any such conditions were not related to his active duty service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board has remanded the case to obtain information regarding when the appellant began receiving Social Security survivor benefits as her husband's widow. The effective date for DIC benefits will be determined based on this information.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing service treatment records and a need for additional medical evidence. The Veteran seeks service connection for a bilateral foot disorder, but no current pathology is documented in the record.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for basic entitlement to VA benefits, including a one-time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund due to lack of qualifying service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left testicle disability warrants an initial 20 percent evaluation, and no higher, under the criteria applicable for rating the genitourinary system. The evidence is in equipoise as to whether both testes are atrophied.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the right great toe as aggravated by residuals of a service-connected injury to that toe, but not based on in-service incurrence or causation.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability, and the appellant is not considered his surviving spouse for purposes of Chapter 35 benefits.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder, claimed as chloracne/skin disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and consideration of new evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's neck injury and its relation to service. The Veteran will need additional medical opinions and possibly a review of his military personnel file.

The Veteran's dysthymic disorder was rated at 10 percent from April 15, 1981 through February 2, 1988. The Board denied a higher rating for this period. For the TDIU claim, the Board found that prior to March 31, 1997, the Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria for a TDIU.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin disorders, including tinea cruris and apocrine skin condition resembling hydradenitis suppurative, are attributable to service.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to incomplete examination reports and other issues.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 50 percent for residuals of compression fracture L1 with deformity is denied as the evidence does not support an increase to this level.

The Veteran's cause of death, listed as cardiovascular accident due to congestive heart failure and coronary atherosclerosis, is not related to his service or any service-connected disability. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's malaria caused or contributed substantially to his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's unauthorized private medical expenses incurred at Bayonet Point Regional Medical Center from January 18, 2006 to January 31, 2006 are eligible for payment due to emergency treatment provided in a hospital setting.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected medial meniscus tear of the right knee, effective from the date of the decision. A separate 10 percent rating is also granted for instability of the right knee.