Other conditions decisions — 2000

The Board denied the veteran's claim for VA outpatient dental treatment on an adjunct basis as his claim was not well grounded.

The veteran's service-connected prescription medicine dependence is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board has found that this rating adequately reflects his disability level.

The veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 1, 1996 for payment of additional compensation based on recognition of his spouse and child was well-grounded. The RO had assigned an effective date of February 1, 1996, which the veteran appealed to the Board. The Board determined that the evidence supported a more favorable earlier effective date.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have service connection for gunshot wound, left Muscle Group XIII. For gunshot wounds to Muscle Groups XIV and XV, the evaluations are denied as they do not exceed the minimum disability rating of 10 percent.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected residuals of a penetrating wound to T12-L1 do not warrant an increased rating as they are only shown to involve slight injury to Muscle Group XX.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of her service-connected focal glomerulosclerosis, currently rated at 20 percent. The evidence did not support a higher rating as there was no indication that she required absorbent materials changed more than twice per day or had daytime voiding intervals less than one hour.

The veteran's son, who was 32 years old at the time of his father's death, is not eligible for death pension benefits as he did not meet the age criteria for a surviving child.

The veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the exclusion of children's income due to hardship is denied as there was no communication prior to January 20, 1998 that could constitute a claim.

The veteran's claims for service connection were denied as the evidence did not show that any of his claimed conditions are related to his period of active duty.

The veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than September 19, 1997, for the grant of service connection for residuals of frozen feet is denied.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of service connection for an eye disorder, but finds that it is not well-grounded due to lack of competent evidence linking the current condition to service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a foot disorder and back and hip disorders, finding that there was no well-grounded evidence to support these claims.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left jaw disorder, including TMJ syndrome, is service-connected.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and reopening of his claims multiple times, citing lack of new or material evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for residuals of a back injury and pulmonary disorder, finding that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the claim for residuals of a back injury. The claim for pulmonary disorder was also denied as not well-grounded.

The veteran's claim for a waiver of overpayment of improved pension benefits was denied due to his failure to report unearned income, which the Board found constituted bad faith.

The veteran's net worth is deemed sufficient to cover his current living expenses, but not enough for a pension due to the need to consume some of it for maintenance. The Board denied the claim as the veteran's net worth currently bars him from receiving improved pension benefits.

The veteran's appeal is dismissed because he died during the pendency of his case.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for payment of the cost of an in-home spa as a necessary part of outpatient care under the Home Improvement and Structural Alterations (HISA) program, finding that it is not feasible or medically necessary.