Other conditions decisions — 2000

The veteran's service-connected benign prostatic hypertrophy is currently rated at 40 percent, and the issue of entitlement to a higher rating remains in appellate status. The facial lesion issue has been addressed separately.

The VA Regional Office (RO) denied the appellant's claim of entitlement to VA benefits because her deceased husband had no recognized military service. The new evidence submitted since the June 1982 RO decision is not considered significant enough to reopen the case.

The VA determined that the dysthymic disorder has been productive of not more than definite social and industrial impairment, allowing for a 30 percent evaluation effective November 7, 1996.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for status post myocardial infarction and other cardiovascular problems, hysterectomy, and residuals of removal of a cyst of the Gartner's duct. The case was remanded multiple times but ultimately affirmed by the RO.

The veteran's former spouse was granted an apportionment of the veteran's VA disability pension benefits on behalf of her, effective from October 1, 1996 to December 1, 1996. The decision is based on the evidence showing that the veteran did not provide support during their separation.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The appeal has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew their appeal before a decision was made.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected right epididymitis and right trapezius strain, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board denied the veteran's application to reopen his claim for service connection for a right eye disorder, finding that the evidence submitted since the 1991 final Board decision was not new and material.

The VA determined that there is no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's claimed generalized arthritis to his service or any incident thereof.

The Board denied the appellant's request to be recognized as the veteran's surviving spouse for VA benefits, finding that her marriage was legally dissolved by divorce prior to the veteran's death.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his withdrawal of the appeals for various conditions and claims.

The Board denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected residuals of a shell fragment wound (SFW) of muscle group XX, the lower dorsal spine. The disability is currently rated at 20 percent.

The veteran's Alzheimer's disease rendered him unable to engage in any substantially gainful employment, leading to a permanent and total disability rating for pension purposes with special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance of another person.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for bilateral varicose veins as not well-grounded, due to a lack of evidence showing the presence of varicose veins during service or linking them to any incident in service.

The Board found that the appellant was not without fault in the separation from her husband, and there is no evidence to suggest he caused the separation. As a result, she cannot be recognized as his surviving spouse for VA benefits.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for outpatient dental treatment and related dental appliances from VA, finding that he did not meet eligibility criteria under any of the applicable classes.

The veteran's claim for a higher rating for service-connected carcinoma of the larynx was timely filed as a notice of disagreement.

The Board found the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a skin condition well-grounded and remanded for further development. The veteran also raised a new claim of entitlement to a compensable evaluation for right ear hearing loss, which was denied by the RO.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, and denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death.