Other conditions decisions — 2009

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have qualifying service as a member of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, including recognized guerrillas, in the service of the U.S. Armed Forces and therefore lacks legal entitlement to nonservice-connected pension benefits.

The Board has determined that additional service department verification is needed to determine if the appellant's late husband had active service in the USAFFE during World War II, which would affect his recognition as a Veteran and thus his legal entitlement to VA death benefits.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before deciding the appellant's claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board denied the appellant's request to reopen her claim for service connection for cause of death, finding no new and material evidence was submitted.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Mercy Medical Center from January 16 to January 18, 2007 is denied as he did not receive VA treatment within the 24-month period prior to his emergency room service.

The Board has remanded the claims for residuals of a broken nose and dental condition due to procedural errors in previous decisions.

The appellant's request for a hearing has been advanced and he is scheduled for a Travel Board hearing. The case will be returned to the Board after the hearing.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to whether new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen a claim of service connection for bilateral cataracts.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further development and readjudication, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining additional medical records. The claim will be considered on its merits after all appropriate consideration.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to inadequate examination regarding arm disabilities other than shoulders.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities have been rated based on limitation of motion due to arthritis. The RO has granted higher ratings for the service-connected right and left knee degenerative joint disease, each at a 20 percent evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a back injury should be remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding whether he had a pre-existing condition prior to military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for cardiac arrhythmia, finding that it was not incurred or aggravated by active service and is not related to a service-connected disability.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection of missing wisdom teeth and removal of tooth #30, finding no evidence of dental trauma or injury in service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral lower extremity pain and a spine disability were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities related to active service.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board found that the Veteran's loss of teeth #8 and #9 was due to in-service trauma, but did not meet the criteria for service connection as compensation purposes.

The Board found that the Veteran's Marfan's syndrome is a congenital condition and not caused by or aggravated by his active duty service, thus denying the claim for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a skin disorder, finding no evidence of a connection to military service or herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's spondylolisthesis L5-S1 with spondylolysis L5 and levoscoliosis with disc bulging L2-L5 results in forward flexion of the thoracolumbar spine ranging from 50 to 90 degrees, associated with pain. The disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it does not result in ankylosis or incapacitating episodes requiring bed rest prescribed by a physician and treatment by a physician.