Other conditions decisions — 2000

The VA determined that the appellant could not be recognized as the veteran's surviving spouse for purposes of entitlement to DIC benefits.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bronchogenic small cell carcinoma with widespread mediastinal metastatic lymphadenopathy and supraclavicular lymphadenopathy with liver metastases resulting from herbicide exposure, finding that there was no medical evidence linking the condition to his period of active service.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for service connection for a right ear disorder, claimed as Eustachian tube dysfunction and otitis media, is not well grounded due to lack of current evidence of a disability.

The veteran's service-connected gastrointestinal disorder, characterized by a small hiatal hernia, reflux esophagitis, history of duodenal ulcers, and status post vagotomy, is currently rated at 30 percent disabling.

The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection were not well grounded and denied them. The decision concluded that there was no evidence linking any current lung disorder or nicotine dependence to his military service.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for alcoholism as there was no competent medical evidence showing a diagnosis or link to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a temporary total disability rating due to post-operative convalescence following an exploratory laparotomy with adhesion lysis and incidental appendectomy in November 1995. The evidence did not support requiring one month of convalescence.

The veteran's service-connected residuals of prostate cancer are now predominantly manifested by a voiding dysfunction with urinary frequency of 3 times per night and some daytime frequency, which supports a higher rating of 20 percent.

The veteran's claim for service connection for back injury residuals is being remanded to the RO for a Travel Board hearing.

The veteran's service-connected bilateral foot disability does not present an exceptional or unusual picture with factors such as marked interference with employment or frequent periods of hospitalization, and thus an extraschedular evaluation is denied.

The VA denied an increased evaluation for the right hip synovitis and arthritis, as well as a TDIU claim. The appellant's service-connected disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or TDIU.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claim for service connection for sesamoiditis of both feet is not well-grounded and therefore denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection for otitis media and the residuals of a throat infection were denied. The compensable evaluation for the sphincterotomy and hemorrhoidectomy was granted, but not increased. The claim for an increased evaluation for irritable bowel syndrome was also denied.

The Board denied service connection for duodenal ulcers and gout, finding that the veteran's conditions were not incurred or aggravated by active military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for hives as it was not well-grounded due to lack of medical evidence linking current diagnosis to a disorder shown in service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims of secondary service connection for arthritis of the right hip and gout, finding that there is no competent evidence linking these conditions to his service-connected Crohn's disease.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral uveitis, finding that there was no well-grounded evidence linking the condition to his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's eligibility for Chapter 30 educational assistance benefits due to a lack of continuous service meeting specific requirements.

The Board found no competent evidence to support the veteran's claim of a current disability related to an injury in service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's application for Service Disabled Veterans' (RH) Insurance was denied because he did not meet the statutory requirement of 'good health,' as defined by VA insurance regulations. The denial is based on a spinal cord injury from a motorcycle accident in 1973, which is not service-connected.