Other conditions decisions — 2011

The Board denied service connection for a pulmonary/respiratory disorder, finding that the available evidence did not establish a medical nexus between the Veteran's current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher evaluation and an earlier effective date for service connection were denied. The Board found that the earliest possible effective date is May 28, 2004, which was the date of receipt of his claim.

The Veteran's right eye disability, characterized by visual field constriction and diplopia, warrants a 20 percent initial rating from June 8, 2003 to December 31, 2006. From January 1, 2007 forward, the Veteran is entitled to a 30 percent initial rating for right eye disability.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for legal entitlement to the one-time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund due to a lack of qualified service.

The Veteran's surviving spouse is not eligible for a one-time payment from the FVEC fund because the Veteran did not file a claim for benefits at any time during his life.

The Board dismissed the appeal as the Appellant did not submit either a notice of disagreement or a substantive appeal from the January 2009 RO determination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of any current allergy disability and left eye disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's gastrointestinal disorder, characterized as gastritis and malabsorption syndrome, is attributable to active duty service.

The Veteran's cause of death was not service-connected due to lack of in-service exposure and no service-connected disabilities. The Board found that the acute myocardial infarction did not have a direct link to his military service.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for nonservice-connected death pension benefits for the period from May [redacted], 2004 to June 2006 due to her income exceeding the maximum annual pension rate.

The Board found that the Veteran's residuals of left inguinal hernia repair do not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation, as there was no evidence of a postoperative recurrent hernia requiring support with a truss or belt.

The Veteran's single service-connected disability, residuals of an esophageal perforation, rated at 30 percent, does not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU rating. The Board finds that his other nonservice-connected disabilities and age do not preclude him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining medical records from Annie Penn Memorial Hospital in Reidsville, North Carolina. The claim will be reconsidered based on the additional evidence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for cause of death.

The Board denied a claim for an evaluation in excess of 20 percent for service-connected residuals of a crush injury and contusions of the left lower leg and foot. The case is now remanded for further development.

The Veteran's right shoulder disability was increased to a 60 percent rating from March 1, 2009.

The Board found that plasmacytomas of the left sinus cavity and left submandible were not present within a year of the Veteran's discharge from service, and are not etiologically related to service. Therefore, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Veteran's gout was initially manifested during his active duty service, and the evidence supports a finding that it is related to this period of service. As such, the claim for service connection for gout has been granted.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for his left eye disability, service connection for bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied. The Board found that the Veteran's left eye disability did not warrant a compensable rating.

The Veteran's metastatic breast cancer and bone cancer were granted service connection during her second period of active service. The RO also restored service connection for the bone cancer, effective from June 1, 2009.