Other conditions Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for a video conference hearing before the Board at the RO in Manila, Philippines. The Veteran's name is placed on the docket for this hearing.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claim for TDIU is also being remanded.

The Board has granted a 70 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected residuals of a head injury and has also determined that he is entitled to TDIU benefits based on his service-connected disability.

The Board found that the Appellant is not recognized as the surviving spouse of the Veteran for the purpose of establishing eligibility for death benefits administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs due to inconsistencies in her statements and testimony regarding her marriage status.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin condition, claimed as rashes, finding that there is no evidence of a current skin disorder related to his military service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's right hand disability is related to an in-service injury and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's residuals of back surgery did not result from VA medical care, and thus denied compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral arm pain, finding that there was no current disability and insufficient evidence to establish a link between his in-service injuries and his current symptoms.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's varicose veins were aggravated by active service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for right hand pain secondary to old fifth metacarpal/hamate fracture was denied as the evidence did not show a disability picture commensurate with a limitation of motion that would warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's chondromalacia patella of the left knee is currently rated at 10 percent, and he is granted a separate 10 percent rating for instability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by metastatic gastric carcinoma, which is service-connected based on direct evidence. The Board also found a link between gastritis shown in service and subsequent development of gastric cancer.

The Board has remanded the case for a Travel Board hearing due to the appellant's failure to report for her scheduled hearing. The appeal is also remanded for further development.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the reduction of his 100 percent rating for status post radical prostatectomy to a 20 percent rating, effective August 1, 2007.

The Board found that the appellant's multiple periods of AWOL constituted willful and persistent misconduct, but did not find evidence to support a finding of insanity at the time of his offenses. Therefore, his character of discharge is considered dishonorable, which bars him from receiving VA benefits.

The Veteran's basal cell carcinoma, left temporal area, was not incurred or aggravated by service and cannot be presumed to have been incurred in service. The Board found no evidence of radiation exposure during service and concluded that the cancer is more likely due to sun exposure.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to May 15, 2007 for the grant of service connection for left patellofemoral chondromalacia is granted. The effective date will be June 8, 2006.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied the appellant's request for an effective date earlier than June 25, 2007 for the award of death pension benefits. The decision stated that the claim was filed after December 2004 and more than one year following the Veteran's death, making the effective date the date of receipt of the claim.

The Board has remanded the case for a video conference hearing due to the Veteran's request. The claims of reopening service connection and secondary service connection for depression are pending.