Other conditions decisions — 2000

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a left foot disorder, finding no competent evidence linking the current disability to service.

The Board has granted a 10% disability evaluation for the veteran's right (major) ring finger ankylosis, finding that it most closely approximates the schedular criteria.

The VA determined that there is no evidence of active otitis externa in the post-service medical records, and thus denied an increased evaluation for this condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death and denied DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 due to lack of evidence linking the cause of death to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for azoospermia and sterility as secondary to an undiagnosed illness, finding no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for post-operative residuals of paralysis of the right hand, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted. The decision is final.

The veteran's claim of service connection for peripheral vascular disease is well grounded and the Board has determined that it should be granted.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection for residuals of a left eye injury and respiratory disorder, as well as his claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits due to lack of evidence showing in-service aggravation or etiology.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for recognition as the surviving spouse of her deceased husband, finding that she was not legally married to him at the time of his death and thus did not meet the legal requirements for such status.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for compensation benefits due to a hip injury, finding that the initial application was filed on February 13, 1996.

The Board denied the veteran's request for a waiver to recover an overpayment of VA pension benefits, finding that the veteran was at fault in accepting the full amount of his monthly pension benefits while incarcerated.

The Board has determined that the veteran's lung disability is not related to asbestos exposure in service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's petition to reopen his claim of entitlement to service connection for status post right nephrectomy, ureterolithiasis, and ureteral stricture with hydronephrosis due to lack of evidence showing a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The Board denied the appellant's request for waiver of recovery of an overpayment of death pension benefits because it was not filed within 180 days after notification.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected traumatic amputation of the right little finger, finding that there was no evidence of metacarpal resection required for a higher rating.

The Board denied service connection for a prostate disorder, did not reopen claims for secondary service connection for Peyronie's disease and an unspecified pancreas disorder, and denied increased ratings for asbestosis.

The Board denied the appellant's request for an earlier effective date of February 1991, finding that the earliest award of pension to the appellant was May 1, 1993.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of a statement of the case on the issue of special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance or at the housebound rate. The veteran must be provided with a Statement of the Case (SOC) so he can perfect his appeal if he wishes.

The Board has determined that the veteran's residuals of a shell fragment wound of the right thigh warrant a rating of 30 percent, effective from the day following service separation.

The veteran's increased rating appeal for his service-connected right patellofemoral syndrome is being remanded due to the need for further assessment of the limitation of motion and functional loss, as well as analysis regarding whether the disability markedly interferes with employment.