Other conditions decisions — 2000

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for his service-connected epidermophytosis of the hands and feet, as well as his claim for special monthly pension based on need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound. The veteran was granted a 50 percent rating for his skin condition.

The Board has denied service connection for the residuals of a head injury and rib fractures, and the RO has also denied reopening the claim for a back injury. The veteran's claims are not well-grounded.

The Board has granted service connection for gum disease, finding that the veteran's current condition is linked to his military service.

The Board found no evidence of a current lung or respiratory disorder related to mustard gas exposure during service, and denied the claim. The Board also found no evidence of a current sinus disorder related to in-service tooth extraction, and denied that claim as well.

The Board denied the appellant's request for a waiver of recovery of an overpayment of improved death pension benefits in the amount of $2370 due to misrepresentation by the appellant.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance or housebound status due to her inability to meet the criteria set by VA regulations.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for PTSD because there was no credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressors actually occurred, and thus, the second element of Cohen v. Brown (1997) was not met.

The veteran's post gastrectomy syndrome was not shown to have produced severe disability, such as malnutrition and anemia. Therefore, his claim for a higher evaluation is denied.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for former POW status for VA benefits as there was no verified period of service as a prisoner of war, and the dates provided by the appellant varied considerably.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for myotonic dystrophy, finding that his claim was not well-grounded due to a lack of competent evidence linking his current condition to his military service.

The veteran's actions in creating an overpayment of improved pension benefits were found to be bad faith, and thus he is not entitled to waiver of recovery.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's respiratory failure, interstitial pulmonary fibrosis or cor pulmonale to his period of service, including in-service asbestos exposure. Therefore, the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death is denied.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding it not well grounded due to lack of evidence linking the cause of death to his period of active service.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals has determined that the veteran's right foot condition was aggravated during his military service and granted service connection for it.

The veteran's former spouse was denied an earlier effective date for apportionment of the veteran's VA disability pension benefits. The appeal is dismissed as the appellant did not file a timely notice of disagreement with the May 24, 1996 denial.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for septal deviation and hypertrophied adenoids, finding that new evidence did not meet the criteria to reopen these claims.,Regarding headaches, the claim was found to be not well-grounded due to lack of medical evidence linking current conditions to service.

The veteran's claim for a compensable rating for residuals of an injury to the right fifth finger is denied.

The VA has determined that the veteran's service-connected gunshot wound to the right thigh warrants a 30 percent disability rating, which is the maximum available under current regulations.

The veteran died of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, which the VA determined was not caused by his service-connected radiation exposure. The Board found that there was no evidence linking any service-connected disability to the cause of death.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a skin disability of the hands and feet, finding that new and material evidence has been submitted. The claim is well-grounded.