Other conditions decisions — 2012

The Veteran's residuals of a fractured mandible have been manifested by painful motion, no displacement or malunion of the lower mandible, limitation of lateral excursion greater than 4 mm and inter-incisal range greater than 40 mm. The criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent have not been met.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a right lung disability, claimed as granuloma. The Board has determined that remand is necessary to obtain updated treatment records and medical opinions regarding the relationship between his current respiratory disability and military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosed left index finger disability and therefore cannot grant service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's skin disorder, including actinic keratosis and benign seborrheic keratosis, is being remanded for additional development due to his failure to appear for a VA examination. The issue of service connection remains on appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine the nature and etiology of his heart disorder, including whether it may be related to service or a service-connected condition.

The VA examiner determined that the Veteran's symptoms of fatigue and short-term memory loss are related to his diagnosed conditions, such as physical pain, anxiety, PTSD, and medications used for treatment. As a result, service connection for these conditions is denied.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for recognition as the surviving spouse of the Veteran for VA death benefits due to a lack of legal marriage following their divorce in December 1994, according to Arkansas state law.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration, including a new request for verification of service from the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC). The appellant's claim remains pending.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have recognized active military service for the purpose of obtaining a one-time payment from the FVEC Fund, and therefore denies the claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information regarding the appellant's service in the Philippine Commonwealth Army. The appeal is not about service connection, but rather eligibility for a one-time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have qualifying service as a member of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, including in recognized guerrillas, to establish eligibility for payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund.

The Veteran's initial rating for status post aortic valve replacement was denied as his condition did not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation prior to February 29, 2008. The effective date remains unchanged at September 17, 2010.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a new examination.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected compression fracture of L1 with fusion from T10 through L4 was denied. The RO assigned a 50 percent evaluation, effective January 1993.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a current low back disability related to the Veteran's military service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records of the Veteran's occupational exposure to radiation and asbestos during service. The examiner is requested to provide opinions on whether it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's pancreatic cancer was incurred in service or related to any incident of service, such as exposure to ionizing radiation, herbicides/Agent Orange, or exposure to asbestos.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that his dysthymic disorder was not incurred or aggravated during active military service and instead attributed to a personality disorder.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a video-conference hearing on issues related to VA Vocational Rehabilitation services.

The Board has granted service connection for Nightmare Disorder with Sleep Disorder, finding that the Veteran's sleep difficulties are manifestations of his nightmare disorder. The decision also grants service connection for a psychiatric disability (Nightmare Disorder).

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied because there is no persuasive scientific or medical evidence suggesting a nexus between his jaw cellulitis and TMJ syndrome, which are not recognized as radiogenic diseases, and any alleged ionizing radiation exposure. The Board also found that the Veteran did not have a current disability manifested by dizzy spells.