Other conditions decisions — 2000

The Board found that the claim is not well-grounded and denied service connection for residuals of a right foot injury.

The veteran's claims for reducing her disability ratings and for a compensable evaluation based on multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities have been denied due to her failure to respond to VA requests for additional evidence.

The Board found that the veteran's facial tic and speech impediment were not caused by VA-provided psychotropic medication, and thus denied compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for a bilateral eye disorder due to new and material evidence, but the claim remains not well grounded as there is no medical evidence showing a current disability resulting from disease or injury incurred during service.

The Board found no competent evidence linking the veteran's current loss of vision in his left eye to service, including any inservice injuries. The claim is therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the November 1984 rating decision contained clear and unmistakable error in denying a total disability evaluation for the veteran's service-connected nervous disorder. As a result, the veteran is now rated totally disabled by a schedular rating for a period of ten or more years immediately preceding his death, entitling the appellant to DIC benefits.

The Board has determined that the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death is not well grounded, and thus denied.

The Board has determined that the appellant's service-connected right partial pneumothorax does not warrant a rating greater than 0 percent, as his FEV-1 readings are above 80% of predicted value without residual functional limitation.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right elbow joint dislocation, finding that the evidence did not support a higher evaluation under the schedular criteria.

The veteran's claim for service connection for the residuals of a left leg injury was denied as there is no current disability and no evidence linking it to service.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that the cancer was not related to his service-connected burns and did not contribute substantially or materially to his death. The claim for educational benefits under Chapter 35 was also denied.

The veteran's post traumatic stress disorder has rendered him unemployable and substantially incapable of obtaining or retaining gainful employment, warranting a 100 percent initial rating.

The Board found that there is no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current skin rash to his military service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding no evidence linking the pancreatic cancer to his military service or exposure to herbicides.

The VA denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to lack of adjudicated service-connected disabilities and insufficient evidence from the Waco VA Medical Center.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected shell fragment wound to the left foot and muscle hernia of the right thigh, finding that the current assigned ratings are appropriate.

The veteran's disabilities, including his psychiatric disorders, make him unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment. Therefore, he is granted a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes.

The veteran's service-connected left leg disability is shown to be manifested by healed fractures of the distal tibia and fibula with slight ankle malunion. The criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent have not been met.

The Board denied an increased rating for enucleation of the right eye, finding that the current evaluation is appropriate based on the veteran's visual acuity and the degree of impairment at the time of his entrance into service.

The veteran's dysthymia is currently rated at 30 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating for this disability. His alopecia areata does not warrant a compensable evaluation.