Other conditions decisions — 2012

The Veteran's postoperative duodenal ulcer with GERD and chronic pancreatitis has been manifested by abdominal pain, diarrhea, pyrosis, regurgitation, anemia at times, and weight loss at different times but does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's service-connected left great toe bunion with degenerative joint disease of the first metatarsophalangeal joint is manifested by occasional discomfort and pain upon prolonged walking or standing, warranting a 10 percent evaluation.

The Board granted service connection for a right inguinal hernia and assigned a noncompensable rating, effective September 24, 1993. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating was denied in October 2010 but remanded by the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) to consider whether his disability warranted an extraschedular evaluation.

The Board is remanding the case to the RO for issuance of a statement of the case regarding whether new and material evidence has been received to reopen a claim of entitlement to recognition as the surviving spouse of the Veteran for VA purposes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for bilateral otitis media, finding that there was no evidence of suppuration or aural polyps.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee disability, claimed as degenerative joint disease, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The VA examiner concluded that the current condition is unrelated to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a maximum oxygen consumption test and consideration of staged ratings.

The Board found that the Veteran's left leg venous insufficiency is not related to his service-connected right leg disability and denied the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's restrictive lung disease is reasonably related to his experiences during active service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining outstanding treatment records.

The Veteran seeks recognition of his son as a helpless child due to permanent incapacity for self-support prior to attaining age 18. The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining SSA decision and related evidence, and providing the Veteran with a supplemental notice letter.

The Veteran's appeal for nonservice-connected pension has been dismissed as the matter is moot due to a VA award of such benefits effective from March 2010.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a neurological disability of the bilateral lower extremities was denied. The Board found that there is no evidence linking the current condition to active duty service or a service-connected disability. For PTSD, the Veteran's rating was reduced from 60% to 10%, effective April 1, 2012. Other increased rating claims were also denied.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional medical records.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for VA compensation benefits as he did not have qualifying military service, and therefore is not entitled to status as a veteran or compensation benefits.

The Board has determined that the appellant is not a veteran under applicable United States law, and therefore is not eligible for one-time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund.

The Board has determined that the appellant did not have any service that would qualify him for payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund, and therefore denied his claim.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for scheduling a Travel Board hearing. If the Veteran fails to report or withdraws, the case will be returned to the Board.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, including his coccidioidomycosis.

The Board found that there is no evidence of a cardiovascular disability in service and the Veteran's current heart condition is not related to her military service. The TDIU claim was also denied as the Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude her from maintaining substantially gainful employment.