Other conditions decisions — 2011

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by or substantially contributed to by a disability incurred in or aggravated by active duty service, including exposure to ionizing radiation.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral collapsing pes planovalgus deformity has not been shown to warrant a rating higher than the currently assigned 10 percent since July 30, 1996.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right eye disability is not etiologically related to service and did not increase in severity during service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's assertions are credible and service connection is granted for loss of feeling of the left side of the forehead.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to inadequate examination reports and incomplete etiological opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for cancer of the ampulla of Vater, finding that it was not incurred in or aggravated by military service and may not be presumed to have been incurred therein due to herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claim of service connection for residuals of injury to right little finger with hypesthesia. As a result, the claim remains denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's neurological disability of the upper extremities is not related to his service or a service-connected condition, and thus denied the claim for secondary service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The issues of entitlement to an earlier effective date and a compensable rating are pending.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized private medical expenses provided by Lake Granbury Medical Center in April 2005 is being remanded due to the need for additional records and compliance with VCAA requirements.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for recognition as the surviving spouse of the Veteran, finding that she was divorced from him at the time of his death and did not meet the requirements to be considered a surviving spouse for VA benefits purposes.

The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 were denied as there is no evidence to support the claimed additional disabilities resulting from VA treatment in 2003.

The Veteran's service-connected left thigh disability is manifested by chronic pain on motion, and the Board has granted a 10 percent disability rating for this condition.

The Board has granted a 30 percent rating for the Veteran's left varicocele, which is manifested by urinary tract infection requiring continuous intensive management of the disability.

The Board found no evidence of a skin condition or priapism as a result of service and denied the Veteran's claims for service connection.

The Board finds that the appellant was paid the correct amount of monthly death pension benefits from April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2008 and from April 1, 2008 forward.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for degenerative joint disease of the left mid-foot and talonavicular joint was granted, with a 10 percent disability rating effective March 23, 2006.

The Board finds that the appellant's DIC benefits were properly reduced due to her incarceration for a felony conviction, and she did not meet criteria for restoration until July [redacted], 2008.

The Board has determined that the appellant did not have qualifying service in the United States Armed Forces and therefore is not a veteran for purposes of receiving compensation from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a Travel Board hearing due to his request. The issue of payment or reimbursement for private medical expenses will be handled as per the new development.