Other conditions Board decisions

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a rating in excess of 60 percent for residuals of shell fragment wounds and entitlement to SMC based on the need for aid and attendance or being housebound. The evidence did not meet the criteria for increased ratings under applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board has determined that the appellant is eligible to receive retroactive educational assistance benefits for the time period from 1987 to 1992, with regard to any coursework that is subsequently approved by VA and pending any necessary verification regarding her status as a child during the period in question.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the representative withdrew the appeal with respect to both issues.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including additional examinations and consideration of whether a separate rating should be assigned for headaches associated with the veteran's left eye disability. The TDIU claim is also inextricably intertwined with the increased rating claim.

The Board has granted an effective date of February 22, 2001 for the award of service connection for right hip arthroplasty. The veteran's claim was deemed to have been filed on that date based on his informal statement seeking this benefit.

The veteran's service-connected right eye corneal abrasion is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board denied an increased rating for this condition, and also found that the veteran did not have a left eye disability, low back disability, tension headaches, erectile dysfunction, or groin rash that were related to his active duty service.

The Board found no evidence of radiation exposure during the veteran's service, and thus denied service connection for the cause of death due to in-service radiation exposure.

The Board has ordered that the Regional Office (RO) verify the veteran's periods of active duty, active duty for training, and inactive duty for training with the Georgia Air National Guard. The RO is also instructed to incorporate any available service medical records into the record.

The Board found that the veteran's idiopathic thoracic scoliosis, with degenerative disc secondary to scoliosis, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis and finds that new and material evidence has been received. However, the claim is ultimately denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking the current arthritis to his period of active service.

The veteran's right eye disability, including trauma, pseudophakia, cataract extraction, lens implant, uveitis, and other ocular conditions, is currently rated at 30 percent under Diagnostic Code 6029. The issue remains in appellate status as the RO has not addressed entitlement to a higher rating.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for nonservice-connected death pension benefits as her husband did not have qualifying military service, and thus she is not eligible.

The veteran's surviving spouse is seeking service connection for her deceased husband's acute myelogenous leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, multiple cytogenic abnormalities, and colon cancer as secondary to herbicide exposure. The claim is being remanded due to the need for a medical opinion regarding the etiology of these conditions.

The Board finds that the appellant is entitled to recognition as the veteran's surviving spouse for VA DIC purposes due to her marriage to the veteran prior to his death, despite a previous divorce and remarriage.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for atrial arrhythmia with pacemaker as secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The other issues were not addressed in this decision.

The veteran seeks service connection for esthesioneuroblastoma, a rare cancer he claims was caused by exposure to Agent Orange in service. The Board has ordered further development of the evidence regarding his potential exposure and its relation to his condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's avascular necrosis of both hips was not incurred in service and is not related to his service. The claim for bilateral hip avascular necrosis is denied.

The Board found that the veteran's rib resection did not meet the criteria for a compensable disability rating under Diagnostic Code 5297, as there was no evidence of removal or resection of one rib or two ribs without regeneration.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for recognition as the veteran's surviving spouse for VA death pension benefits due to her remarriage to the veteran less than one year before his death, and no child was born of their relationship.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 30 percent for the veteran's costochondritis, finding that her symptoms did not warrant such an increase based on the criteria provided.