Other conditions decisions — 2000

The Board found that the veteran's claims of malnutrition and malaria were not well-grounded, as there was no current medical diagnosis or evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for genitourinary disability is not well grounded and therefore denied. The total disability rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disability is also denied as the service-connected left little toe disability does not meet the minimum schedular requirements for a total rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including issuance of a supplemental statement of the case (SSOC) and review of the claim for dependency and indemnity compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318(b). The SSOC will address all evidence received since the November 1997 SOC.

The veteran's pension award is denied as the effective date cannot be earlier than January 24, 1998 due to his examination on that day.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for postoperative residuals of osteogenic sarcoma of the left tibia and metastatic osteogenic sarcoma of the left lung, claimed to have been caused by radiation exposure in service.

The Board found that the veteran's pre-existing right inguinal area condition was not aggravated by service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating and effective date prior to January 31, 1996 was granted. He is currently rated at 10 percent for residuals of facial bone fractures with right trigeminal neuralgia.

The Board found no additional disability in the veteran's back and left lower extremity as a result of his 1993 VA hospitalization, concluding that any pain was due to pre-existing conditions.

The veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability by reason of his service-connected amputation of the right index finger is denied as he does not meet the schedular prerequisites for such a rating and his unemployability is unrelated to his service-connected condition.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed because he died before the Board could make a decision on his claim for service connection for mucinous carcinoma of the abdomen (pseudomyxoma peritonei) with metastases, claimed as secondary to exposure to Agent Orange.

The Board found that there is no medical evidence establishing a link between the veteran's service-connected prostatic hypertrophy and his later development of adenocarcinomas of prostate and cecum, nor does it establish that these conditions were caused by service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for cause of death was denied.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 10 percent for bilateral gastrocnemius myofascitis, finding the disability to be most nearly approximate to the criteria for a 10 percent rating for fibromyalgia.

The veteran's Section 306 pension benefits were terminated effective January 1, 1990 due to excessive income. The Board found the termination proper.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a right tibia stress fracture is not well grounded due to lack of current diagnosis and medical evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his claim for service connection for a low back disorder, finding no new and material evidence had been submitted.

The veteran's service-connected residuals of a brain stem event are currently rated at 10 percent, which is the maximum rating available for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased rating for his duodenal ulcer with vagotomy and pyloroplasty, finding that he is currently receiving the maximum schedular disability evaluation assignable for this condition. The claim for TDIU was also denied as there is no evidence of exceptional hardship or frequent periods of hospitalization due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hair loss, sleep disturbances, swelling of the hands and feet, and symptoms involving the skin as chronic disabilities resulting from undiagnosed illnesses. The decision found that the veteran had been diagnosed with alopecia areata for her hair loss, which is not considered a chronic disability resulting from an undiagnosed illness.

The veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for right second toe and right third toe disabilities resulting from VA hospitalization or medical treatment in December 1981 is denied, as there is no evidence of additional disability attributable to the treatment. The effective date for service connection for callosities of the right foot secondary to service-connected postoperative residuals of a right great toe arthrodesis remains at October 14, 1993.

The Board has determined that the veteran's currently diagnosed cardiovascular disability is related to his period of active military service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.