Other conditions decisions — 2011

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a VA examination and adjudicating the secondary service connection claim. The Veteran's peptic ulcer disease may be related to his substance abuse (alcohol, drugs and cigarettes), which is likely related to his service-connected appendectomy.

The Veteran's lung disability had its onset during a period in which he was not on active duty for training, and there is no competent and probative evidence that it is otherwise related to his active duty service. He has had surgical correction for a congenital defect for which there was no superimposed acquired pathology.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim of entitlement to service connection for the cause of death due to new and material evidence submitted since the last final denial. The Veteran died from an overdose, but the appellant argues that it was not a suicide.

The Board finds that the Veteran's left foot disability is not related to service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic left thumb disorder in service and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on aid and attendance is being remanded due to the need to adjudicate his secondary service connection claim. His right total hip replacement as secondary to his service-connected amputation of the right humerus distal end with loss of use of right foot is also under consideration.

The Veteran's arthritis/muscle or joint pain is not considered service-connected, as there is no evidence of such conditions during active duty and the current symptoms are attributed to other causes.

The Veteran's death precluded any pending claims for additional accrued benefits, as no new or material evidence was presented to reopen the service connection claims. The appellant is not entitled to additional accrued benefits beyond those previously awarded.

The Board found that the Veteran's current ear disabilities are not causally or etiologically related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not have residuals of a neck injury during or after service, nor could they be presumed due to exposure. His shell fragment wounds resulted in functional impairment but did not meet criteria for higher ratings.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a right foot disorder. The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development and need for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the effective date for adding his current spouse to his VA benefits award cannot be earlier than November 1, 2006 due to failure to inform VA of marital changes within one year.

The Veteran's effective date for non-service-connected pension and special monthly pension based on aid and attendance is set at May 30, 2006.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have residuals of a brain aneurysm related to service and therefore denied his claim.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for syringomyelia and its associated neurological manifestations. The Board finds that additional development, including a VA examination, is necessary to determine the nature of his condition and whether it is related to service.

The Veteran's right humerus fracture residuals are currently evaluated at 20 percent, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate given the current range of motion.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral retropatellar pain syndrome did not warrant a higher rating as his knee disabilities do not meet the criteria for additional compensable limitation of motion or instability. The current ratings under Diagnostic Codes 5260 and 5261 are denied.

The Board denied the appellant's request for an extension of his delimiting date for DEA benefits, finding no legal basis to grant such a request.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for a one-time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund as his service did not qualify him under the applicable laws and regulations.

The Board has determined that the Appellant is not eligible for additional death pension benefits due to her receipt of zero income, and therefore, there are no unreimbursable medical expenses from which to offset her pension.