Other conditions decisions — 2011

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and he did not have qualifying service for nonservice-connected death pension or accrued benefits.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain additional information regarding the Veteran's exposure to ionizing radiation during service and to determine if he was exposed. The DIC claim will be reconsidered based on this new information.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current residuals of heat stroke and therefore, his claim for service connection is denied.

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

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have qualifying service and therefore is not a veteran for purposes of receiving benefits from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board found that the Veteran's aortic insufficiency and aortic stenosis are congenital in nature and not related to service. The Board also noted conflicting opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's condition, with some suggesting it was acquired after an episode of sub-clinical rheumatic fever, which is considered unlikely given the absence of mitral valve disease.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and affording the Veteran a VA examination to determine if he has gout and its etiology.

The Board has found that the Veteran's low back disability presents marked interference with employment, warranting referral to the VA Director of Compensation and Pension Service for consideration of an extraschedular rating. The case is also remanded to consider whether the Veteran is entitled to a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the right knee is found to have resulted from an injury sustained during service, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder was denied as there is no evidence of a current respiratory disorder and the symptoms are attributed to tobacco use and obesity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of a fractured nose is granted, based on credible evidence of an in-service injury and current residual symptoms.

The Veteran's residuals of rheumatic fever with a heart valve disorder, abnormal EKG, and a first degree AV block resulted in an activity level of 10 METs prior to June 21, 2010. The Board finds that this does not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Board found that the Veteran's Alzheimer's disease did not have its onset during service, was not diagnosed or manifested to a compensable degree within a year of separation from active duty, and there is no competent medical nexus between the Veteran's current Alzheimer's disease and active service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hand disability manifested by loss of use is denied as there is no evidence of such a condition.

The Veteran's post-operative varicose veins of the right leg have been manifested by intermittent edema and subjective pain, with symptoms relieved by elevation or compression hosiery. The current evaluation is appropriate given these findings.

The Board found that a current digestive disorder, including achalasia, was not incurred in or aggravated by active military service and is not proximately due to or aggravated by a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new examination and scheduling of a hearing. The current issue on appeal is whether he should receive a higher rating for his nephrolithiasis condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to missing treatment records from Henry Ford Hospital. The Veteran's cause of death is under consideration.

The Veteran's cold injury residuals and associated peripheral neuropathy are currently rated at the maximum schedular rating available, with no additional symptoms warranting a higher evaluation.