Other conditions decisions — 2011

The Veteran's service-connected right and left foot disabilities have been granted a 30 percent disability rating, the highest available under Diagnostic Code 5284 for post-operative residuals of hallux valgus deformity and hammertoe deformity. The other issues remain at 10 percent.

The Board found that the cause of the Veteran's death, which was alcoholic liver disease and gastrointestinal bleeding, was not related to his active service.

The Board has determined that the appellant's discharge from military service for the period from April 30, 1965, to February 4, 1971, is a bar to entitlement to VA benefits due to his unauthorized absence of more than 180 continuous days.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination to assess his current disability status and whether he requires regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, and his service-connected manic depressive illness is not considered to have contributed substantially or materially to the cause of death.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the severity of his service-connected postoperative right testicle residuals and whether any neurological manifestations are separate from the genitourinary symptomatology.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a neck disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing an opinion regarding the etiology of any current cervical spine disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and for a new VA examination. The issues are whether he should receive higher disability ratings for his service-connected trench foot disabilities.

The Veteran's service in the United States Army is not considered eligible for compensation under the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund.

The Board found that the Veteran's pericarditis, which resolved promptly with treatment in March 2004, was not incurred during service and is unrelated to military service. The examiner concluded that the Veteran had a complete recovery from an episode of mild pericarditis without any sequelae or long-term effects.

The Veteran's residuals of a laminectomy for removal of spinal dural fistula deep wound hematoma are found to be an additional disability resulting from VA treatment, specifically due to the failure to timely diagnose his condition. The Board grants compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VCAA notice, and further development is required before a decision can be made.

The Board has ordered additional development to verify whether the Veteran was exposed to oil well fires while deployed in Southwest Asia during 1991, which could potentially affect his claim for service connection for the cause of his death.

The Board found that there is no competent medical evidence of the Veteran having suffered from an intestinal issue while in service. The VA examiner opined that the Veteran's problems with regard to intestinal issues were related to the adverse environment during deployment, including dehydration and poor diet, rather than inadequate hydration or lack of fibrous foods.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of sinus bradycardia and thus service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for phlebitis was denied as there is no competent and credible evidence of current phlebitis.

The Veteran's claims for increased evaluations for hallux valgus left foot and left leg atrophy are denied as they cannot increase his combined disability evaluation, which already exceeds the maximum allowed by regulation.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a right foot disorder and numbness of the face, claimed as a residual of wisdom teeth extraction, were denied. The Board found no current disability related to these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a comminuted fracture of the left clavicle were rated at 20 percent prior to December 23, 2008. Effective from that date, his disability rating was increased to 30 percent.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of service connection for a bilateral eye disability, and thus the claim is denied.