Other conditions decisions — 2011

The Veteran's right eye pterygium has not resulted in impaired visual acuity of at least 20/50 in one eye and 20/70 in the other eye, so his claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent is denied.

The Veteran's claimed unreimbursed medical expenses for the years 2000 and 2001 were found to be not credible or genuine, thus VA denied his claim of exclusion from income for pension purposes.

The Board denied the reopening of service connection for right hip arthritis due to lack of new and material evidence, as the additional evidence did not relate to a fact necessary to substantiate the claim or raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board has determined that there are questions regarding the appellant's eligibility as a surviving spouse due to inconsistencies in her statements and the lack of a divorce decree. The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining a copy of the divorce decree and providing VCAA notice.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hip and pelvic disability should be remanded to allow for further examination and consideration of the evidence.

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of a right forearm injury is being remanded due to the need for additional VA examination and records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected knee and foot disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of a left lower leg disability manifested by pain, and thus service connection cannot be granted.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his left thigh gunshot wound residuals has been dismissed as he requested withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral femoral aneurysms and pseudoaneurysms and bilateral deep vein thrombosis is being remanded due to the need for clarification of the etiology of his conditions. The claims are related to exposure to smoke from oil well fires in Kuwait, administration of unapproved drugs during service in Kuwait, or tobacco disorder (attributed to PTSD).

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for degenerative changes of the proximal dorsal aspect of the right foot has been denied. The issue regarding an increased rating for degenerative changes of the thoracolumbar spine beginning May 9, 2010 remains unresolved.

The Veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and scheduling VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disability is not related to his service, specifically the in-service left transverse fracture of the L1 vertebra. The preponderance of evidence supports this conclusion.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral foot disorders are related to his service, and thus grants service connection for both left and right foot disorders.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for myelofibrosis with fatigue and shortness of breath was denied as there is no evidence of radiation exposure during service, and the condition is not otherwise related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability of shin splints and did not experience chronic symptoms during service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for bilateral shin splints is denied.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance and/or housebound status is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records from SSA and his residential facility.

The Veteran is seeking a full accounting of compensation payments made to him from May 1, 2006 through October 2008. The Board finds that the current information in the claims file does not allow for a determination on whether he has received the full amount of compensation due.

The Veteran's service connection for dental trauma of teeth numbered 2, 7 and 8 is granted, allowing unlimited VA outpatient dental treatment.