Other conditions Board decisions

The VA determined that the veteran does not have a current disability of chronic pneumonia, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran wishes to withdraw his appeal regarding the September 1997 rating decision, and as a result, the Board has dismissed the appeal.

The Board has determined that the appellant is entitled to DIC benefits under hypothetical entitlement theory due to her spouse's death from metastatic bowel cancer.

The VA denied a request for an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected left foot injury, currently rated at 20 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a loss of taste, finding that there was no medical evidence showing that his current condition was related to his service-connected residuals of skull fracture with craniotomy and loss of smell.

The veteran's loss of taste is found to be related to his service-connected residuals of a skull fracture with craniotomy and loss of smell, thus granting service connection for this condition on a secondary basis.

The appellant's grandson is not eligible for additional VA death pension benefits as he does not meet the legal eligibility criteria of being a natural child, adopted child or stepchild of the veteran.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected dysthymia, including adjustment disorder with mixed emotional features, is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and employment leave records.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability was denied because the single service-connected condition (perirectal abscess) did not meet the minimum percentage requirement of 60% before August 21, 1992.

The veteran's request for a waiver of overpayment of pension benefits was denied because it was not filed within the required 180-day period after notification of the indebtedness.

The veteran's appeal is remanded for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his right shoulder disability and any associated neurological disorders. The case will be readjudicated after obtaining all relevant treatment records.

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for bruxism as there was no legal basis for the claim due to bruxism not being a compensable disability.

The veteran's application for enrollment in the VA medical healthcare system was denied as he does not meet the eligibility criteria for any priority group and applied after January 17, 2003.

The Board has determined that the veteran's treatment on January 14, 2005 at Shands Jacksonville Medical Center was for a medical emergency and has granted payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for removal of all upper teeth due to in-service trauma. However, the veteran does not have a compensable dental disability or condition resulting from such trauma, thus the claim is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service medical records and requests for additional development.

The appellant is not eligible for retroactive Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits prior to March 24, 2002, as she did not file her application within one year of the initial award of permanent and total disability rating for her father's service-connected condition.

The veteran's right thumb disorder was evaluated at 40 percent prior to May 1, 2005.,Since May 1, 2005, the veteran is rated at 30 percent for his right thumb disability.,The RO has requested restoration of a 40 percent evaluation from May 1, 2005.

The Board has remanded the case to determine if service connection for arthritis of both hips is warranted, as secondary to avascular necrosis of both hips.

The Board has determined that the veteran's chronic otitis externa does not warrant a compensable rating, as there is no evidence of swelling, dry and scaly or serous discharge. The most recent VA examination noted active bilateral ear infections and monthly pruritus (itching), but these symptoms are insufficient to meet the criteria for a 10% disability rating under Diagnostic Code 6210.