Other conditions decisions — 2011

The Veteran is already receiving a 90% schedular rating for bilateral optic atrophy, which adequately considers his overall eye disability. The loss of visual fields from March 6, 2008 to December 10, 2008 does not warrant an extraschedular evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unemployable as he is capable of performing the physical and mental acts required by employment, despite his left leg compartment syndrome and sickle cell anemia.

The Veteran's service-connected right foot fracture has resulted in moderate, but not moderately severe, symptoms. The Board finds that the disability does not warrant a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his hernia disability and service connection for abdominal scars.

The Veteran's skin conditions, including trichoepitheliomas and basal cell carcinoma (BCC), are being remanded for further development to address the relationship between his service and these disabilities.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities were rated as 10 percent disabling prior to September 20, 2007. The disability picture more closely approximated slight limitation of function due to pain.

The Veteran is not entitled to reimbursement for travel expenses from Norristown, PA to Spring Lake, NC on April 4, 2007 as he failed to obtain proper case manager approval for interregional travel expenses.

The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals are rated at 60 percent, and his impotence with penile deformity is rated at 20 percent. The combined rating is 70 percent. The Board finds the evidence in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities alone preclude him from obtaining or maintaining gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of medical expenses incurred at Holmes Regional Medical Center from February 8, 2005 to February 15, 2005 is denied as the evidence shows that he was stable for transfer to a VA facility on February 7, 2005.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining confirmation of service in Vietnam and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of the Veteran's throat cancer. The hearing loss disability claim will also be scheduled for an audiometric evaluation.

The Veteran's claim to reopen his service connection for a lung disorder has been granted. However, the evidence does not support a finding that his current respiratory disorder is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses provided by Allegiance Health from February 2, 2009, to February 3, 2009 is denied as the preponderance of evidence does not show prior authorization and the treatment was not rendered in an emergency situation.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee is being remanded due to a need for updated medical findings and a VA joints examination.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred on April 25, 2009, at a non-VA facility is denied because he did not receive VA care within the 24 months preceding the private treatment.

The Board has determined that the appellant did not have the requisite service to qualify for payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund, and thus denied his claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a one-time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund as he did not have qualifying service in the Philippine Commonwealth Army, including recognized guerrillas, in the service of the United States Armed Forces.

The VA denied the appellant's claim for a one-time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund due to lack of service in the United States Armed Forces.

The Board found no clear and unmistakable error in the denial of service connection for schizoid personality or tinnitus. The Veteran's claims were denied as his conditions did not meet the criteria for service connection.

The Board has granted an effective date of February 2, 1977 for the grant of service connection for schizoaffective disorder based on continuity of symptoms since service.

The Board has ordered a remand for further development of the Veteran's claims, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination.