Other conditions Board decisions

The Board has determined that the appellant's home attendant expenses, which exceed five percent of the applicable MAPR for a surviving spouse requiring aid and attendance with no dependents, can be excluded from her countable income. This exclusion allows for a reduction in her total family income, thereby allowing her to receive improved death pension benefits.

The Board has determined that the earliest date as of which an increase in disability occurred is March 29, 1995. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating was granted effective from this date.

The VA Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the appellant's service-connected Bright's disease does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 30 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected right foot fracture residuals and scar have been rated as 10 percent disabling since April 26, 2006. The rating for the scar has remained at 10 percent since September 29, 2010.

The Board determined that the Veteran's cause of death, carcinoma of the pancreas, was not caused or aggravated by his military service, including herbicide exposure during service in the Republic of Vietnam.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether the Veteran's rectal bleeding disorder had its onset during his military service. Service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for irritable colon and diverticular disease, as well as initial increased disability ratings for asbestosis prior to August 26, 2003, and since that date, were denied. The Board found no evidence of a current diagnosed condition related to the Veteran's service or any incident therein.

The Board found that the Veteran's poor circulation with edema did not have its onset during active service or result from disease or injury in service. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current idiopathic thrombocarpurpa (ITP) is related to active military service, including exposure to chemicals during his service in the Southwest Asia Theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War. As a result, the claim for service connection for ITP is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral lower extremity venous varicosities were not shown to meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 50 percent prior to March 19, 2008. On or after that date, they did not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 60 percent.

The Veteran's dysthymic disorder is related to service and the Board grants his claim for service connection.

The Board found that Hodgkin's disease was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied the claim.

The Veteran's right saphenous vein avulsion, status post endoscopy stripping, was rated at 10 percent since December 20, 2006. The claim for TDIU is also denied.

The Veteran's right eye pterygium has not resulted in impaired visual acuity of at least 20/50 in one eye and 20/70 in the other eye, so his claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent is denied.

The Veteran's claimed unreimbursed medical expenses for the years 2000 and 2001 were found to be not credible or genuine, thus VA denied his claim of exclusion from income for pension purposes.

The Board denied the reopening of service connection for right hip arthritis due to lack of new and material evidence, as the additional evidence did not relate to a fact necessary to substantiate the claim or raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has determined that there are questions regarding the appellant's eligibility as a surviving spouse due to inconsistencies in her statements and the lack of a divorce decree. The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a copy of the divorce decree and providing VCAA notice.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hip and pelvic disability should be remanded to allow for further examination and consideration of the evidence.

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of a right forearm injury is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected knee and foot disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records.