Other conditions decisions — 2000

The appellant's annual income exceeded the maximum amount allowed by law for VA pension eligibility, resulting in denial of her claim for death pension benefits.

The Board denied service connection for hypercholesterolemia as it is not considered a disability that can be granted.

The veteran's claim is being remanded for further development, including informing him of alternative avenues to establish a well-grounded claim and providing information on DSM-IV criteria for nicotine dependence.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current sleep disorder to his military service and denied the claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further investigation and review of records related to the veteran's service, including any incidents involving aircraft accidents or vehicle-related injuries during his tour of duty.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim and found that new evidence supports reopening, but denied service connection for a bilateral foot disorder due to lack of aggravation during service.

The veteran's claim for an automobile allowance was granted as he had already filed a formal claim in January 1998.

The Board has granted a rating of 20 percent for the veteran's stress fracture of the right foot, effective December 12, 1995. The earlier effective date claim is also granted.

The Board found that the veteran does not have a current left leg disorder and there is no medical evidence linking any such condition to service. The claim for service connection was denied as not well-grounded.

The veteran's chronic prostatitis, which includes symptoms such as urgency, post-void dribbling, perianal pain, dysuria, burning, nocturia, and tenderness, has been rated at a 30 percent level since May 20, 1996.

The Board found that the veteran was entitled to a waiver of recovery for the period from April 30, 1983 to August 1, 1991 due to fault on his part in creating the debt. However, they concluded that requiring repayment for the period from January 1, 1983 to April 29, 1983 would not violate the standard of equity and good conscience.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected right arm thrombophlebitis is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for memory loss and fatigue, as well as his claim for a higher rating for left knee chondromalacia. The Board found that these conditions were not due to active duty service or an undiagnosed illness related to service in the Persian Gulf War. The veteran's left knee condition was rated at 10% since February 1996.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for residuals of deep vein thrombosis due to new and material evidence. However, the claim remains denied as there is no current disability related to the in-service event.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of death due to Strongyloides infection, finding that it was not shown to be of service origin and did not contribute substantially or materially to the veteran's death.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim of service connection for hammertoes is not well grounded, as there is no competent medical evidence linking current hammertoe disability to military service.

The Board has determined that additional development of the veteran's claim is needed, including obtaining private medical records and determining if his claim is well grounded.

The Board has determined that the veteran's hallux valgus of the left foot, post-operative, with calluses does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for VA benefits based on his permanent incapacity to self-support prior to age 18 due to polio, finding that he was not permanently incapable of self-support before reaching 18 years old.

The veteran's post-operative residuals of a subtotal gastrectomy are currently rated at 40 percent, and the evidence does not support an increase to a higher rating.