Other conditions decisions — 2000

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for conjunctivitis, keratitis, and corneal opacities as well as a higher initial rating for chronic dry eyes. The claim for service connection was not well-grounded due to lack of medical evidence supporting these conditions. The claim for a higher initial rating for chronic dry eyes was granted with a 10% disability rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service connection for residuals of dental trauma to teeth numbers 8 and 9 is granted, allowing him eligibility for VA outpatient dental treatment. The rating for his nasal fracture remains at 10 percent.

The Board has determined that the veteran's abdominal aortic aneurysm does not warrant a disability rating higher than 20 percent under either the old or new VA Schedule for Rating Disabilities criteria.

The Board has granted the appellant's claim for earlier effective date of aid and attendance based on the revisions in the law, but no specific rating or effective date is assigned.

The Board has ordered additional evidence to be obtained regarding the appellant's insanity at the time of her court-martial offenses, as this term is defined in VA regulations. The claim will be reconsidered based on these new findings.

The Board found that there is medical evidence suggesting the veteran currently suffers from dysthymic disorder, which may have initially manifested during his active military service. The claim for service connection for dysthymic disorder was well-grounded.

The Board denied service connection for shortness of breath as a chronic disability resulting from an undiagnosed illness, finding that the veteran's symptoms were not related to his Gulf War service.

The veteran's glomerulosclerosis is being remanded for further development, including a compensation examination to rate the disability under both diagnostic codes 7502 and 7509.

The Board found no evidence to support a connection between the veteran's cardiovascular disorder and his treatment for gastrointestinal issues at VA, thus denying compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected obstructive airway disease, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation prior to October 7, 1996 and effective from October 7, 1996.

The Board found that the veteran's current jaw disability is not related to his military service, but granted service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder as secondary to his post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for extraschedular ratings for his service-connected right and left foot disabilities, finding that the schedular criteria adequately encompassed the impairment produced by these conditions.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that there was no evidence linking his death to any event or etiology in service. The appellant has not presented competent medical evidence to support her claim.

The Board found that the veteran's current eye disorders of hyperopic refractive error and presbyopia were not shown in service, and there is no competent medical evidence relating these disorders to his service. The Board also noted that exotropia and amblyopia began before service and did not increase beyond natural progression during active duty.

The Board has granted a 100 percent evaluation for the veteran's service-connected mood disorder and determined that the charged loan guaranty indebtedness was validly established in the amount of $12,429.86.

The Board found no competent medical evidence associating any right lower extremity disability with the service-connected left lower extremity disabilities, and thus denied the claim of secondary service connection.

The veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with depressive features and ulcer disease with hiatal hernia are currently rated at 10 percent each. The Board found that the current manifestations do not warrant a higher rating.

The Board denied a compensable rating for the veteran's postoperative residuals of distal interphalangeal joint fusion of the right ring finger, finding that the ankylosis was not unfavorable and thus did not warrant amputation.

The Board has determined that the appellant's request for waiver of recovery of an overpayment of improved death pension benefits is granted due to the financial hardship and lack of significant fault on her part in creating the overpayment.