Other conditions decisions — 2000

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for spina bifida occulta, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the claim. The decision also noted that the veteran had a back disorder prior to service.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 1, 1997, for spousal allowance benefits was denied because there is no written documentation of his notification of his second marriage within a year of the event. The earliest effective date for compensation payments is set at December 1, 1997.

The veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability was denied as his back condition alone does not result in marked interference with employment.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of pneumonia and residuals of a fat embolism are not well-grounded, as there is no medical diagnosis of current disabilities or a link to service.

The veteran's right elbow disability required a temporary total evaluation for convalescence following May 1998 surgery. The evaluation was extended through August 31, 1998.

The Board has determined that there was clear and unmistakable error in reducing the veteran's disability evaluation for Osgood-Schlatter's disease from 10% to zero percent, effective November 2, 1954. The decision grants the veteran a restored 10% disability rating.

The appellant's service is not recognized, and therefore he does not meet the basic eligibility requirements for VA benefits.

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

The veteran's bowel disorder was not incurred as a result of active duty service, to include participation in the Southwest Asia theater of operations during the Persian Gulf War.

The Board upheld severance of service connection for enucleation of the left eye in August 1949, finding that it was due to preexisting conditions and not aggravated by service. The veteran is challenging this decision on grounds of CUE.

The Board has determined that the veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking it to his military service.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim of service connection for right hip arthritis as there is no competent medical evidence showing a causal relationship between his current condition and either an in-service injury or a service-connected disability.

The veteran's pension benefits were overpaid by $18,496 due to underreported income. The RO is instructed to obtain updated tax returns and Social Security information from the Internal Revenue Service and Social Security Administration to accurately determine the amount of overpayment and whether it was properly created.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a lung disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional VA medical records.

The Board has granted a 10% evaluation for the veteran's residuals of a shrapnel wound to the left thumb, finding that there is some limitation of motion and functional impairment.

The Board found no evidence of a hearing disability within the meaning of VA regulations, and denied service connection for defective hearing in the left ear.

The Board has granted service connection for cardiomyopathy and a total rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The cause of the veteran's death is attributed to his service-connected bronchiectasis, which contributed to his overall health issues.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of a back injury and calluses on his feet, finding that the evidence did not support higher ratings based on current functional impairment.

The veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred from May 22 to May 24, 1997 for treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy were denied as the treatment was not for a medical emergency and VA facilities were feasibly available.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of duodenal ulcer is denied as the earliest date of entitlement to service connection was September 1, 1993.