Other conditions decisions — 2000

The veteran's partial paralysis below the waist and bowel and bladder dysfunction are not considered to be a result of VA care, but rather were reasonably foreseeable consequences of his pre-existing condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a nervous disability and a stomach disability as they are not well grounded.

The veteran's claim for service connection for nicotine dependence resulting from tobacco use in service is denied as it is prohibited by law due to the date of his claim being after June 9, 1998.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a tonsillectomy is not well grounded due to lack of medical evidence showing current disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for cancer of the mouth and periodontal bone loss, finding that there was no evidence to support these claims. The Board also found that the post-service removal of certain teeth was related to his service-connected periodontal bone disease.

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for a stomach disorder, finding that new and material evidence had not been presented to reopen the final denial from February 1948.

The veteran's service-connected chronic suppurative otitis media has been evaluated as 10 percent disabling since February 1987, and the Board finds that he meets the criteria for an extraschedular rating of 20 percent.

The Board has denied an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected stress fractures of the right and left legs, finding no evidence of compensable disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right eye disability, resulting in enucleation, was aggravated by service and is therefore granted service connection.

The Board found that the veteran's current hip disability was not caused or aggravated by her service-connected bilateral foot disorders, and denied her claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim is well-grounded and grants the claim for a varus deformity of the left lower extremity.

The veteran's claim for an effective date prior to March 1, 1998, for increased disability compensation benefits based on recognition of a common-law spouse is denied.

The Board has granted higher ratings of 60 percent for post-phlebitis syndrome of the left leg and thrombophlebitis of the right leg, which are more favorable to the veteran under the revised rating criteria.

The Board found that the veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a left elbow injury could not be reopened because no new and material evidence was submitted. The September 1952 rating decision denying service connection is final.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for a gastrointestinal disorder, to include peptic ulcer disease, is not well grounded and therefore denied.

The Board has determined that the veteran's cardiovascular disease, including myocardial infarction and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, was incurred in service due to his tobacco use during military service.

The veteran is seeking a higher rating for his service-connected right knee disability, which currently results in a 20 percent disability rating. The VA has requested additional information and ordered an updated examination to determine the current severity of his right knee condition.

The veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for left eye enucleation is denied as the loss of vision was a necessary consequence of treatment for malignant ocular melanoma.,The veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on anatomical loss of the left eye is denied due to lack of entitlement under the law, as he does not have service-connected disability related to his left eye enucleation.,The veteran's claim for service connection for loss of visual acuity of the right eye secondary to left eye enucleation is denied because there is no evidence linking this condition to a service-connected disability or active service.

The veteran's application for annual clothing allowance was denied by the VA Regional Office (RO) in Denver, Colorado. The RO determined that the effective date could not be earlier than August 1, 1998 due to a failure to file within one year of the initial award.

The Board denied the veteran's request to waive recovery of a loan guaranty indebtedness in the amount of $25,000 due to his default on the VA guaranteed loan. The decision concluded that collection would not violate principles of equity and good conscience.