Other conditions decisions — 2002

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of injuries to the right elbow and hand, finding that it is at least as likely as not that these conditions began during active service. The claim for service connection for a back injury was denied.,Service connection was granted for the right hand condition based on evidence showing an in-service fracture, but the Board found no link between current back pain and active service.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected chronic prostatitis and chronic urethritis, status post transurethral resection of prostate. The effective date was not established due to insufficient evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for evaluations greater than 20 percent for Dupuytren's contracture of both hands, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis secondary to his service-connected syphilis, finding that there is no evidence of a causal relationship between the two.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection as his squamous cell carcinoma of the left tonsil is not shown to be related to exposure to herbicides during service, and thus cannot be presumed. The Board also found no direct evidence linking the cancer to service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been presented to warrant reopening the claim of entitlement to service connection for varicose veins, thus the claim is denied.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for status-post shrapnel injury to the right lower leg with retained metal fragment, finding that no claim was submitted prior to June 12, 2000.

The Board found that the veteran's service-connected Reiter's Syndrome is currently inactive and without any exacerbation, thus not warranting a higher disability rating.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for DEA benefits under Chapter 35, Title 38, United States Code, for periods of enrollment from September 1992 to June 1994 due to the appellant being over 26 years old at the time his father's total disability rating was established.

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for residuals of a back injury, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted.

The VA has determined that the veteran's Crohn's disease with ileum ulcer warrants a 30 percent evaluation, which is the highest rating available under current criteria.

The Board denied the veteran's request for apportionment of his non-service connected pension benefits, finding that an apportionment would cause undue financial hardship to him.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for waiver of recovery of an overpayment of pension benefits, finding that his failure to report income constituted bad faith resulting in a loss to the government.

The Board has determined that the veteran's post-traumatic stress disorder warrants a 70 percent rating, reflecting severe impairment in social and industrial adaptability.

The Board determined that the veteran's failure to provide accurate information regarding his income and net worth led to an overpayment of pension benefits. The decision grants waiver of recovery of this overpayment, finding undue financial hardship for the veteran.

The Board denied the veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for Bell's palsy due to lack of new and material evidence.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for colon cancer, finding no evidence of its onset during or within one year after service and concluding that it is not related to herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of March 16, 2000 for a 90% disability evaluation for optic neuritis and retinitis.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the veteran's death, finding that no service-connected disability caused or contributed to his death.

The Board denied the appellant's request for waiver of recovery of an overpayment of VA improved death pension benefits in the amount of $2,026.00 due to her failure to submit a timely request.