Other conditions decisions — 2000

The Board denied the appellant's claim of entitlement to service connection for the cause of her husband's death due to Myelodysplastic syndrome and progressive marrow failure, finding no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service or any service-connected disability.

The Board's decision denying waiver of recovery of loan guaranty indebtedness in the amount of $6,000.00 plus interest has been dismissed due to a withdrawn motion for review.

The veteran's osteomyelitis of the right lower extremity is granted service connection. The temporary total convalescent evaluation for surgery performed in April 1994 is also granted.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a chronic acquired testicular disorder and variously diagnosed lung disorder have been reopened. The claim for increased rating for peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity with scar and foot drop has been granted, along with an initial compensable evaluation for beriberi.

The Board dismissed the motion for revision of a prior decision based on clear and unmistakable error due to insufficient information provided by the veteran.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was caused by his service-connected hiatal hernia and/or gastroesophageal reflux disease, which began in service.

The Board denied service connection for short gastrocnemius muscle and forefoot varus, but granted a 10% evaluation for the veteran's service-connected pilonidal cyst. The veteran's bilateral hammertoes and plantar callosities were also granted an increased evaluation to 30%. No new evidence was presented to reopen the service connection claims.

The Board found that the evidence submitted since the July 1984 rating decision was not new and material, thus denying the reopening of the claim for service connection for cause of death. The DIC benefits claim is also denied.

The Board determined that the veteran's service-connected cause of death (myocardial infarction) is not well-grounded, as there was no evidence showing a cardiovascular disorder in service or for many years thereafter.

The veteran's post traumatic stress disorder renders him unemployable, and he is granted a total disability rating due to individual unemployability.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of an injury to his right thumb is not well-grounded due to lack of evidence showing a current disability, aggravation during service, or any link between pre-existing condition and service.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected varicose veins do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under either the old or new VA rating criteria.

The Board granted increased disability ratings for Reiter's disease and nephritis, but denied service connection for hypertension. The veteran's Reiter's disease was rated based on its chronic residuals.

The Board granted a 10 percent disability rating for left trapezius strain, effective from September 14, 1998.

The Board has denied the appellant's claim for accrued benefits as he and his siblings did not provide receipts of expenses incurred in caring for their father during his last sickness.

The Board has determined that the veteran's preexisting nasal deformity and perforation were aggravated by service, leading to increased breathing difficulties and development of a septal perforation. The claim is granted.

The Board denied an increased rating for a compression fracture of L-1 with deformity of the vertebral body, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for keratoconus and found it well grounded. However, additional medical evidence is needed to determine if the current keratoconus disability is related to military service.

The Board found that the appellant's service-connected condylomata acuminata is no more than a 10 percent disability, as there were no clinical findings supporting an evaluation in excess of this level.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for Grave's disease and service connection for headaches, anxiety, and depression. The issue of entitlement to a right knee impairment is not currently before the Board.