Other conditions decisions — 2003

The Board has granted an increased rating for the veteran's service-connected residuals of a right foot injury to 20 percent and for his service-connected residuals of a right thumb injury to 20 percent, effective January 5, 1996.

The Board denied the appellant's request for a waiver of recovery of an overpayment of VA improved death pension benefits, finding that both the VA and the appellant share fault in its creation. The decision also noted that recovery would not result in undue financial hardship to the appellant.

The Board found that the veteran's cardiovascular disability is related to his military service and granted service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for hiatal hernia, nonduodenal ulcers, and diverticulosis as secondary to his service-connected disabilities. The Board also denied the veteran's claim under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for these conditions resulting from VA medical treatment.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for post-traumatic personality disorder, finding that his current neuropsychiatric symptoms are more likely due to age-related multi-infarct dementia rather than his service-connected disability.

The Board found that the veteran's arthritis of the hands was incurred in service and granted service connection.

The veteran's dysthymic disorder is rated at 50 percent, which meets the criteria for a 100 percent evaluation due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for paranoid state was denied as the condition did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating prior to April 14, 2000 and in excess of 10 percent on or after that date.

The veteran's cutaneous T-cell lymphoma is related to his active service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the veteran's left clavicle disability does not meet or approximate the criteria for a compensable rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Board finds that the veteran's service-connected ax wound injury of the left foot does not warrant an evaluation in excess of 20 percent, as his current symptoms are primarily attributed to a nonservice-connected fracture and other conditions.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral hip bursitis and denied an increased rating for loss of Teeth 7-10.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for waiver of recovery of an overpayment of improved pension benefits, finding that it would not be against equity and good conscience to recover the overpayment.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for service connection for cause of death due to a lack of evidence linking the veteran's fatal heart disease to his military service.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for basic eligibility for VA disability benefits due to a lack of valid documentation verifying his military service.

The Board denied the appellant's claim of entitlement to death pension as she does not have basic eligibility for that benefit.

The veteran's brother, the appellant, is ordered to repay $2,691 of overpaid pension benefits. The rest of the overpayment at issue will not be recovered from him.

The veteran's claims for service connection for a bowel disorder, residuals of cheek injury, and residuals of rib cage injury were denied. The claim for an increased evaluation for PTSD was also denied.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected urethritis, finding that it did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation during the period from December 28, 2001.

The Board found that the veteran's colon cancer is not related to her service or her service-connected back disability, and thus denied her claim for service connection.