Other conditions decisions — 2012

The Veteran's service-connected achalasia with dysphagia is manifested by a severity permitting passage of liquids only and slow digestion, warranting a disability rating of 50 percent.

The Board finds the remaining debt of $5,545.00 to be valid and grants a partial waiver for the overpayment.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly adjudicate the Veteran's claims, including obtaining medical records and conducting examinations.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claim for service connection for HIV, which was previously denied in April 2006.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of his claim.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have qualifying service to be eligible for a one-time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The appellant's service department has certified that he had no service as a member of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, including recognized guerrillas, in the service of the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II. As such, he is not legally entitled to payment from the FEVC Fund.

The service department has certified that the appellant had no service as a member of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, including recognized guerrillas, in the service of the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II. Therefore, he is not eligible for payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have qualifying service and therefore is ineligible for the one-time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund.

The appellant's income exceeds the maximum countable income for death pension benefits, and thus she is not entitled to nonservice-connected death pension.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for a one-time payment from the FVEC Fund due to lack of qualifying service, as determined by the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC).

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 10% disability rating for service-connected amputation of the left middle finger was denied as there is no evidence showing a factually ascertainable increase in disability within one year prior to his March 31, 2010 claim.

The Veteran's service-connected traumatic cataract of the left eye, status post lensectomy, is rated at 30 percent and no higher due to his blindness in that eye. The claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected neurological condition due to solvent exposure and arachnoid cyst is rated at 30 percent, effective November 30, 2010. The rating includes evaluations for balance and gait residuals (30%) and visual residuals (not compensable).

The evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's chronic myelogenous leukemia was incurred in or aggravated by active service, including exposure to chemicals and/or ionizing radiation.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death due to hepatocellular carcinoma, concluding that it was not related to active service or presumed exposure to herbicides. The Board also found no ischemic heart disease contributing to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for gouty arthropathy of the left hand and bilateral lower extremities is being remanded due to incomplete examination report, lack of VA treatment records since May 2011 from Little Rock VAMC, and need for additional development.

The Board has remanded the case to the Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office for further development, including obtaining additional service treatment records and providing a new VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records related to the Veteran's application for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. The appellant is seeking an earlier effective date for special monthly compensation based on the need for aid and attendance.