Other conditions decisions — 2000

The Board denied the claim of basic eligibility for VA benefits due to lack of service as a member of the United States Armed Forces.

The Board denied the appellant's request for waiver of recovery of an overpayment of death pension benefits in the amount of $6,658 due to a reduction in her pension benefits.

The Board found that the October 1995 VA Form 9 was a timely appeal with respect to whether new and material evidence had been presented to reopen the claim of an earlier effective date for VA improved disability pension benefits. The veteran's appeal was dismissed without prejudice.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral eye condition, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen the claim.

The Board has determined that the veteran's schizoaffective disorder warrants a 50 percent evaluation, and his claim for TDIU is granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's rectal cancer is not due to service, including exposure to ionizing radiation during service. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the condition was incurred or aggravated by service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for decreased vision requiring glasses and early cataracts, finding that there was no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for recurrent hard corn, right first metatarsal head, status post excision of plantar keratoma and remodeling of plantar tibial sesamoid.

The Board found that the veteran's bilateral trachoma residuals, including chronic conjunctivitis, warranted a 10 percent evaluation. The August 1980 and June 1986 decisions denying service connection for trachomatous conjunctivitis were not clearly and unmistakably erroneous.

The Board dismissed the veteran's motion to revise their decision based on clear and unmistakable error due to insufficient information about which specific issue he was challenging.

The VA determined that the veteran's defective hearing does not warrant a compensable rating, as his pure tone thresholds and speech recognition scores do not meet the criteria for any higher evaluation.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected hypertensive cardiovascular disease is being remanded to the RO for further development, including a VA examination and review of medical records. The goal is to determine if the current 30 percent disability rating adequately reflects the severity of his condition based on both old and new rating criteria.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for Chapter 35 Dependents' Educational Assistance as it was withdrawn by the appellant. The issue of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death remains pending.

The VA determined that the appellant and appellee are not beneficiaries of the veteran's National Service Life Insurance policies, while his contingent beneficiaries are entitled to the proceeds.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for malnutrition, finding that neither the old nor new versions of applicable regulations are more favorable to him.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of left eye injury, shrapnel wound to the neck, gunshot wound to the collar bone, and right leg injury as they were not well-grounded.

The Board found that the veteran's eye disability, including presbyopia and meibomianitis, was not incurred in or aggravated by service. The condition is considered a normal part of aging rather than a compensable disability.

The Board denied the veteran's application to reopen his claim of service connection for right eye aphakia, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The veteran's adenocarcinoma of the prostate was denied service connection as it is not related to his active duty service, and there is no evidence that he was exposed to ionizing radiation during service.

The Board denied the veteran's request for waiver of recovery of an overpayment of $2,085.57 in VA disability compensation benefits due to his incarceration and failure to report changes in circumstances.