Other conditions decisions — 2005

The veteran withdrew his appeal on the issue of an effective date earlier than January 21, 1997, for the grant of compensation benefits under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 (West 1991), for anal fissure.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of his death.

The veteran's service-connected right shoulder disability is productive of mild functional impairment and noncompensable limitation of motion, warranting a 10 percent rating.

The VA has determined that the veteran's schizoaffective disorder, depressed, warrants a 50 percent initial disability rating but not higher. The symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to verify the appellant's military service and her eligibility for educational assistance under Chapter 1606. The case will be returned to VBA for this purpose.

The appellant is not eligible for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) or death pension benefits due to her marriage to the veteran being less than one year before his death, which does not meet the legal requirements.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claim of the appellant as the surviving spouse of the veteran for VA death benefits.

The Board found that the veteran's cardiovascular disorder was not incurred or aggravated by service, and provided negative evidence against this claim based on post-service medical records.

The veteran seeks service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder, claimed as nervous stomach. The Board finds that additional development is needed to determine if his current symptoms are related to his in-service complaints.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for VA death benefits as her deceased spouse did not have qualifying military service, and thus she does not meet the basic eligibility requirements.

The Board has granted a 10 percent rating for the veteran's patellofemoral syndrome with synovitis of the left knee, considering his reported limitations and pain.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for DIC benefits due to the liberalizing regulation eliminating the 30-year time restriction for respiratory cancers due to exposure to Agent Orange by Vietnam Era veterans, which was effective January 1, 2002.

The VA denied the appellant's claim for benefits under Chapter 17 of Title 38, U.S. Code, as he did not have a current disability due to elephantiasis incurred during service.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected hiatal hernia is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and treatment records.

The veteran's claim for reimbursement of the cost of a prescription purchased from a private pharmacy in May and September 2002 is granted. The VAMC did not attempt to assist the veteran to obtain records reflecting whether the purchase was authorized.