Other conditions decisions — 2001

The Board denied the veteran's claim of service connection for skin rashes and impetigo, finding no current chronic skin condition.

The VA granted a 50% evaluation for service-connected cephalalgia, effective from March 18, 1992. The veteran's claim was previously remanded multiple times and the RO increased his disability rating to 50%.

The veteran's death was due to colon cancer and well differentiated adenocarcinoma at the root of the mesentery, metastatic. The Board found that these conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by active service and are not related to Agent Orange exposure. Therefore, service connection for the cause of death is denied.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as the appellant withdrew it prior to a decision being made.

The Board has reopened the claim of service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to new and material evidence submitted. The proximate cause of the veteran's death was determined to be nicotine dependence acquired in service.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (BVA) has determined that the veteran's net worth was excessive for pension benefits, leading to a denial of improved disability pension due to his excessive net worth.

The Board found that the reduction of the evaluation for the veteran's pelvic fracture residuals from 40 to 20 percent was not proper, and granted restoration of a 40 percent evaluation.

The veteran's spouse is eligible for an apportionment of the veteran's compensation benefits, as he has not reasonably discharged his responsibility for support and the amount does not cause undue hardship.

The Board found that the reduction of the veteran's evaluation from 100% to 30% was proper and denied entitlement to restoration of a 100% rating.

The Board found that the veteran did not have a head injury in service, and his learning disorder did not begin during service. The veteran's established service-connected conditions did not cause or worsen his learning disability.

The veteran's vocational rehabilitation benefits were terminated due to unsatisfactory progress and failure to comply with program requirements.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's residuals of a back injury, to include residuals of a pilonidal cystectomy. The decision is based on evidence that his current low back disability is related to service.

The Board denied a higher initial evaluation for residuals of an ingrown toenail, right great toe as the condition is essentially stable and does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The veteran's request for a waiver of the recovery of an overpayment of $9,171 in VA pension benefits was denied due to his bad faith in failing to report income from Social Security Administration.

The Board found that the veteran's preexisting fracture of the left patella did not undergo an increase in severity during service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has granted a 10% evaluation for the veteran's service-connected left ear otitis media, effective from June 9, 1999.

The veteran's sick sinus syndrome and recurrent paroxysmal atrial flutter have not been severe enough to warrant a higher evaluation since January 31, 1993.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and reopened his claim for service connection for psychosis. The denial of PTSD was based on a lack of evidence linking it to service, while the reopening of the psychosis claim was due to new evidence not previously considered.

The Board found that the veteran's right eye visual impairment did not warrant an evaluation in excess of 20 percent between August 27, 1997 and November 31, 1999. The reduction from 20 to 0 percent for his service-connected right eye visual impairment was proper based on improvement documented during the examination conducted in January 1998.

The Board has determined that the veteran's right foot disability does not warrant more than the current 10 percent evaluation.