Other conditions decisions — 2000

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for sickle cell anemia was denied. The decision states that the earliest effective date is August 31, 1977, which is when the application to reopen the claim was received.

The Board denied both claims for increased ratings, finding that the veteran's service-connected disabilities did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of a fracture of the right fourth metacarpal do not warrant an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The veteran's request for waiver of a debt resulting from overpayment of VA pension benefits was denied due to fraud in the creation of the debt.

The Board has denied a higher evaluation for postoperative excisions of multiple lipomas to the forearms, finding that the evidence does not support an evaluation in excess of 10 percent.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of chicken pox, claiming it as a skin condition on various body parts. The decision stated that there was no evidence to support a causal relationship between his current skin disorder and his in-service treatment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's varicose veins of the right leg are not service-connected, but his left leg condition is service-connected and warrants a 60% rating.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for abnormal liver function tests and intention tremors, finding that there was no evidence to support these conditions being related to his military service.,The veteran's intention tremors were not found to be related to his military service or exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board denied an increased disability rating for the veteran's blindness of the left eye, finding that he was already receiving the maximum schedular rating under Diagnostic Code 6070 prior to November 20, 1998 and under Diagnostic Code 6066 from November 20, 1998. The Board concluded that the veteran's testimony regarding his need for an artificial eye did not provide sufficient evidence to warrant a higher rating.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected hypochondriacal reaction is being remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and considering a recent PTSD examination report.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for the veteran's residuals of a gunshot wound to the left hand, finding that the disability is primarily manifested by pain on motion and productive of moderately severe impairment.

The Board has found the appellant's claim well grounded and granted service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to his service-connected varicose veins.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that there was no medical evidence linking any diagnosed conditions to his military service or connecting them to a service-connected condition.

The veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension was denied as he did not meet the basic eligibility requirements due to lack of wartime service.

The veteran's claim for service connection for lymphoma, claimed as secondary to Agent Orange exposure in service, was denied because there is no competent medical evidence linking the condition to his military service. The veteran also had a claim for an initial compensable disability evaluation for residuals of fracture, navicular, right foot, which was remanded for further examination and development.

The veteran's left calf disability is rated at 10 percent and does not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted accrued benefits for the expenses incurred by the appellant in connection with her aunt's last sickness or burial, as she is not the veteran's surviving spouse, child, or dependent parent.

The Board found that the veteran's Hodgkin's lymphoma was in remission and did not meet the criteria for a 100 percent evaluation. The MROC reduced his rating from 100% to 0%, effective April 1, 1997.

The Board found that the claim for residuals of pneumonia is not well grounded, while the claim for gastrointestinal symptoms (claimed as somatoform disorder) is well grounded. The appeal is considered 'mixed' due to the different statuses.

The veteran's claim for a higher evaluation of his service-connected postoperative residuals of an L4-5 herniation is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of all relevant medical evidence.