Other conditions decisions — 2000

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral defective hearing and granted a 10 percent evaluation for paronychia and lymphangitis of the left middle finger. The issue of an increased rating remains pending.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's recurrent right inguinal hernia, finding that it was aggravated by his prior service.

The Board has found that the veteran's service-connected primary sclerosing cholangitis warrants a 30% evaluation, as it is currently manifested by constant pruritus, chronic abdominal discomfort, nausea, increased liver enzymes, and fatigue.

The Board denied entitlement to an effective date prior to October 1, 1998 for the reinstatement of DIC benefits as the law did not allow retroactive application prior to October 1, 1998.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his herniated nucleus pulposus, L5-S1 with nerve root compression is denied as he is already receiving the maximum possible rating.

The Board found that the veteran's varicose vein disability did not meet or approximate criteria for an evaluation greater than 20 percent, and denied his claim.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to exposure to radar radiation, finding that multiple myeloma was not incurred or aggravated by service and was not otherwise etiologically related to service. The evidence did not support a presumption of service connection based on exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Board found no evidence of a current disability related to the veteran's active service and denied his claim for service connection.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for service connection of peptic ulcer disease, finding no evidence linking the condition to his period of service.

The veteran's service-connected post traumatic stress disorder is rated at the highest possible level (100%) due to severe impairment in social and occupational functioning.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his service-connected left leg and index finger disorders, finding that there was no legal basis for a schedular evaluation in excess of the current maximum rating provided.

The veteran's claim for a waiver of the overpayment of VA improved pension benefits was denied because his actions constituted willful misrepresentation and failure to disclose material facts, which precluded waiver.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claim of service connection for the cause of her husband's death is not well-grounded and thus denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of cerebrovascular accident with right-sided involvement do not warrant a restoration of a 30% rating, as they currently only qualify for a 10% rating.

The VA has denied an increased evaluation for postoperative residuals of a right inguinal hernia, as the medical evidence does not show that the appellant currently has a large, recurrent hernia that is inoperable.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for Osgood-Schlatter Disease of both knees, finding that there is no evidence to support a higher rating based on current symptoms and medical findings.

The Board has determined that a restoration of a 20% evaluation for the veteran's residuals of a bunionectomy of the right great toe is warranted.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's amputations of multiple toes to his service-connected left leg bone graft or his vascular insufficiency and bypass graft due to diabetes mellitus.

The veteran died during the appeal process, and as a result, the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of his claim for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a waiver of recovery of an overpayment of VA disability pension benefits, finding that the veteran was at fault in causing the debt due to his failure to report his wife's income. The decision also noted that repayment would not result in unfair gain and did not nullify the purpose of the benefits.