Other conditions decisions — 2011

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current eye disorder that is causally or etiologically related to his military service, including as secondary to his service-connected paranoid schizophrenia. The evidence does not support a finding of continuity of symptomatology and there is no medical opinion linking the current eye disorder to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including new examinations and a statement of the case addressing all issues.

The Veteran is granted a 10 percent rating for residuals of status post stress fracture of the third metatarsal, right foot. The claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder is addressed in the REMAND portion.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right hip disability, including fracture and degenerative joint disease, is not related to his service or a service-connected condition.

The appellant is not considered the surviving spouse of the Veteran for VA death benefits purposes due to her divorce from the Veteran in 1988, which ended their marital status.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development and consideration, including a review of the overpayment creation and any additional evidence submitted by the Appellant.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic otitis media and its residuals began during his military service and are related to his active duty. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claimed muscle aches and joint pain were not incurred in or aggravated by service, as there is no evidence of such symptoms during service and the absence of continuity of symptomatology since service separation.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of a cold injury to both the right and left feet, finding no evidence of such injuries in service or any current disabilities related to those injuries.

The Board has granted the application to reopen a claim of basic eligibility for VA benefits, but denied the claim for a one time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund due to lack of veteran status.

The Board denied reopening the claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to lack of new and material evidence, as the submitted evidence was cumulative.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's umbilical hernia is related to his military service. The VA will obtain additional medical records and conduct a new examination to determine if there is a connection between the hernia and service.

The Board has ordered the case back to the RO for additional development and readjudication. The Veteran's character of discharge from service is under review, but no specific conditions or exposure basis are mentioned in the decision.

The Veteran's small-fiber neuropathic disease and CIDP, bilateral lower extremities are currently rated at 60 percent disabling. The appeal is granted.

The Board has determined that the retroactive addition of dependent children M.H. and W.H. is warranted as of September 12, 1991.

The Board found that the Veteran's eye disorder, including blepharitis, macular degeneration, and refractive error, is not related to his service or any incident therein. The opinion from a VA specialist concluded that the Veteran's macular degeneration was not caused by or related to his in-service blepharitis.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision, thus the case is dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for esophageal cancer as due to exposure to asbestos, for an acquired psychiatric disorder as secondary to a service-connected disorder, and for TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement or payment of medical expenses at Baptist South Medical Center from November 18 to November 19, 2010 is being remanded due to unclear information regarding unpaid medical expenses and the need for further review by the Gainesville VAMC.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral foot disorder, characterized as hallux valgus deformity and clawfoot (pes cavus), is currently rated at 30 percent. The Board finds that the current rating adequately reflects the severity of his disability.