Other conditions decisions — 2012

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current skin rash of the groin, and thus cannot establish service connection for this condition. The claim is denied.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for a one-time payment from the FVEC Fund due to lack of service as a member of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, including recognized guerrillas, in the service of the United States Armed Forces.

The Board has determined that the earliest date of entitlement for service connection of median nerve neuralgia of the left hand is March 29, 1990. Therefore, an effective date earlier than February 21, 2006, for the grant of service connection is granted.

The appellant is not recognized as the surviving spouse of the Veteran for purposes of entitlement to Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits due to a lack of continuous cohabitation from their marriage until his death.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death. The Board had not decided the merits of his claims before he passed away.

The Board found that the cause of the Veteran's death was unrelated to his military service, including any alleged in-service radiation exposure. As a result, service connection for the cause of death was denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development due to outstanding records and a need for a new examination of his service-connected hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic sweating of both hands, finding no current disability and insufficient evidence to link his symptoms to service or any presumptive conditions.

The Veteran's sleep disorder, insomnia, is proximately due to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder. The Board grants the claim of service connection for a sleeping disorder.

The Veteran claims service connection for chemical burn of the feet, bilaterally. The case is being remanded to obtain an addendum from the May 2011 VA examiner and possibly a new examination.

The Veteran's gastritis was manifested by severe erosions in multiple areas of the stomach from January 14, 2004 to May 10, 2005, warranting a 60 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's bilateral pes cavus has been manifested by less than marked contraction of the plantar fascia, without dropped forefoot, with fewer than all toes being hammer toes, without very painful callosities, and without marked varus deformity. The criteria for a higher rating have not been met.

The Board has granted a special apportionment of 25 percent of the Veteran's VA disability compensation benefits to the appellant, which will alleviate her financial hardship.

The Board found that the initial VA treatment did not cause the Veteran's additional lung disability, and there was no fault on VA's part.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a pineal gland cystic tumor, claimed as a brain tumor due to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, is being remanded for additional development including obtaining SSA records and considering the internet information provided by the Veteran.

The Board is remanding the case to determine the proper distribution of a $200,000 settlement between the appellant and her son. The RO will then re-adjudicate whether the entire amount should be recouped from the appellant's death compensation benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with depressed mood has been rated at the highest possible disability rating of 100 percent, reflecting total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's daughter has filed a notice of disagreement regarding the denial of her claim for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA). The case is being remanded to provide her with a statement of the case and her appeal rights.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bunions of the feet and fungus of the feet, finding no in-service or post-service medical evidence to support these conditions. The Veteran's assertions regarding continuity of symptomatology were inconsistent with the available evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including deep vein thrombosis of the left and right lower extremities and status post pulmonary embolism, meet the criteria for special monthly compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s).