Other conditions decisions — 2000

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of injury to the left leg, hypertension secondary to PTSD, and TDIU due to PTSD. The denial is based on a lack of competent evidence relating these conditions to his military service.

The veteran's overpayment of improved disability pension benefits was denied due to bad faith in reporting his earnings.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his service-connected post-operative right femoral hernia was granted, with a current rating of 30 percent.

The veteran's net worth in 1997 did not constitute a bar to the receipt of Section 306 disability pension benefits.

The Board has found that the veteran's claim is well-grounded and granted service connection for psoriatic arthritis affecting multiple joints, finding it at least as likely as not related to his service-connected psoriasis.

The Board found no evidence of a well-grounded claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability.

The Board found that the veteran does not meet the criteria for special monthly pension benefits because of the need for regular aid and attendance due to his multiple disabilities, as he is able to perform many personal functions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for higher special monthly compensation (SMC) based on anatomical loss or loss of use of both legs at a level, or with complications, preventing natural knee action with prosthesis in place. The decision found that the veteran does not meet the criteria for this rating.

The Board has determined that the veteran's current psychiatric diagnoses, including schizoaffective disorder, depressed type, are related to his military service and granted service connection for this condition.

The veteran's claim for eligibility for VA dental treatment is granted, as there is evidence suggesting he sustained dental trauma in service and his current edentulous state aggravates his service-connected hemorrhoids.

The Board has reopened the veteran's claims for service connection due to exposure to ionizing radiation, but finds that neither condition is well grounded and denies both claims.

The Board finds that the evidence does not satisfy the criteria for a 100 percent rating, and therefore denies the claim for a rating in excess of 60 percent for shrapnel wound residuals of the posterior left chest pleural cavity.

The Board has granted a 10 percent evaluation for each of the veteran's bilateral foot disabilities, characterized as varus with metatarsalgia and minimal arthritis.

The veteran's claim for a compensable rating for residuals of an amputation of the distal phalanx of his left ring finger is denied as there are no functional defects or abnormality in the hand, and the dexterity and ability to grasp objects are within normal limits.

The Board denied the reopening of a claim for service connection due to lack of new and material evidence, concluding that no current residuals of a left fifth toe disorder have been linked to service.

The veteran's conditions do not meet the criteria for special monthly pension on account of aid and attendance or housebound status.

The VA has determined that the veteran's gastritis does not warrant an increased rating beyond the current 10 percent assigned since June 22, 1955.

The Board has determined that the veteran's claim for service connection for uncontrolled bowel movements as secondary to his service-connected residuals of a gunshot wound and degenerative disc disease is not well grounded.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for PTSD because there was no competent evidence of a diagnosis of PTSD or any other current psychiatric disorder, and thus the claim is not well grounded.