Other conditions decisions — 2000

The veteran's bilateral pes cavus is now rated at 50 percent effective September 27, 1999. The RO also granted TDIU based on the veteran's service-connected bilateral pes cavus.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current peripheral vascular disease is not service-connected and denied reopening of his claim for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's death was caused by bronchopneumonia and hypertensive cardiovascular disease, which are service-connected due to his exposure to vesicant agents during World War I. The Board found it likely as not that the VA's failure to treat a probable myocardial infarction contributed to the cause of death.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected lipoma of the right forearm is being remanded due to a lack of recent VA examination and consideration of functional limitations.

The veteran's claim for payment of unauthorized air ambulance expenses incurred on March 4, 1999 was denied because the travel was not authorized in advance and because his transfer to the Albuquerque VA Spinal Cord Injury Center was not undertaken in connection with a medical emergency such that delay to obtain authorization would have been hazardous to the person's life or health.

The veteran died due to severe dehydration with shock, which was not a certain or very nearly certain result of his treatment. The Board found that the VA care did not cause or contribute significantly to the death.

The Board has determined that the overpayment of improved disability pension benefits was properly created and that it is against equity and good conscience to require repayment due to the veteran's bad faith in not reporting his marital status and family income.

The VA has determined that the veteran does not have any residual disability associated with his service-connected chronic prostatitis, and therefore denies a compensable evaluation for this condition.

The VA has granted a 30 percent evaluation for the appellant's service-connected reactive airway disease, effective October 7, 1996. The rating is based on daily inhalational anti-inflammatory medication use.

The Board denied the veteran's claims of service connection for hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, including ovarian cysts present prior to this surgery. The claim was also denied for an increased rating for cervical lymphadenopathy.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for his service-connected residuals of a left hand injury and for service connection for arthritis of the left hand, as well as for a total rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for direct service connection for a right hand disability, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the claim.

The veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of medical expenses incurred at UVMC from March 3, 1997 to March 13, 1997 is denied as there was no prior authorization and the treatment did not meet the criteria for an emergency.

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his cervical spine disability, currently evaluated at 40 percent.

The Board denied service connection for continuous thirst and a sleep disorder as chronic disabilities resulting from an undiagnosed illness, finding that these conditions are attributable to known clinical problems rather than undiagnosed illnesses.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional VA medical records and to readjudicate the claim for service connection of a left eye disability. The veteran's request for a hearing has been withdrawn.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected left middle finger disability does not warrant a compensable rating, as there is no limitation of motion or scarring. The claim for an increased rating is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's right wrist fracture and assigned a 10 percent rating, effective from July 31, 1996. The disability is currently rated based on functional impairment.

The Board denied an increased disability rating for the veteran's left knee disorder, currently evaluated as 20 percent disabling. The evidence did not support a higher rating due to moderate impairment.

The Board has determined that the veteran is entitled to a 20 percent rating for his service-connected bilateral varicose veins as of January 12, 1998.