Other conditions decisions — 2000

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was caused by cancer, and they need to obtain tissue samples for further analysis. The appeal is being remanded to the RO.

The veteran's claim for compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 was denied because there was no evidence to support a finding that VA medical personnel were at fault or negligent in performing the Whipple procedure, which resulted in leakage and ulceration.

The Board found that there is no medical evidence linking the veteran's cancer of the larynx and lip to service or to nicotine dependence, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The veteran's service is not considered to have been active for purposes of VA improved death pension benefits. The appellant's claim for eligibility for VA improved death pension benefits is denied.

The Board denied the appellant's claim of eligibility for VA improved death pension benefits, finding no new and material evidence to reopen her case.

The Board has denied the appellant's claim for a compensable rating for residuals of a resection of the left ovary, as she is already receiving the highest schedular rating available.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death as there was no evidence linking his death to an incident of service.

The veteran's claim for independent living services and assistance under Chapter 31 is denied because his combined disability rating does not meet the required threshold of a 20% service-connected disability.

The case is being remanded to the RO for further review, including consideration of the amended regulations clarifying the requirements for service connection for dental conditions that became effective on June 8, 1999.

The Board found that the appellant knowingly submitted false information to establish entitlement to VA benefits, and affirmed the forfeiture decision. The appeal for CUE was denied as there was no clear and unmistakable error in the original decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 as his appeal was not timely perfected.

The Board has determined that the veteran is entitled to a compensable, 10 percent evaluation for post-operative hypertrophic tonsillitis based on his subjective complaints of hoarseness and objective findings of some thickness in the vocal cords but no lesions. The decision also notes that another VA examination for rating purposes is not warranted.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder is not well-grounded and denied it.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for Reiter's syndrome, effective December 1997. The veteran is seeking an increased rating.

The Board found no evidence to support the veteran's claim that his current right eye condition is related to his service, and thus denied the claim.

The Board found no competent evidence linking the veteran's current skin or gastrointestinal disorders to his military service, including any exposure to herbicides. The claims are therefore denied.

The veteran's polymyositis with interstitial lung disease has been rated at 60 percent since the initial grant of service connection in March 1993. The VA determined that his condition warranted this higher rating based on his pulmonary function tests showing DLCO (SB) between 40%-55% on 10 out of 13 tests, indicating a significant impairment.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected residuals of a laceration of the right hand and residuals of a fracture of the fifth metacarpal of the left hand, finding that the evidence did not support higher evaluations.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, finding that the preponderance of evidence did not support the claim and that the COPD was more likely related to cigarette smoking than to the service-connected inactive pulmonary tuberculosis.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of multiple joints, finding no competent evidence to support a diagnosis of arthritis.