Other conditions decisions — 2012

The Veteran's gallbladder dysfunction with periodic vomiting and aortic aneurysm have been granted initial noncompensable ratings. Service connection for bilateral wrist disability and right rib disability has not been established.

The Veteran's residuals of a right thumb fracture are currently rated as 10 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code (Code) 5228, which is used in rating limitation of thumb motion. The evidence does not support an increased rating.

The Veteran's service did not include wartime service, and therefore the Appellant is not eligible for nonservice-connected death pension benefits based on the Veteran's service.

The Board denied the claim for a one-time payment from the FVEC Fund as there is no recognized service in the Philippine Commonwealth Army, including organized guerrilla forces or New Philippine Scouts, to qualify for the benefit.

The Board has granted an effective date of July 20, 1988 for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's claim was reopened on new evidence submitted in July 20, 1988.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral heel spurs is being remanded due to the inadequacy of a previous VA examination. The examiner did not consider the Veteran's reports of in-service symptoms and his post-service work history, which may be relevant to establishing a link between current heel spurs and military service.

The Board has determined that a remand is required to consider whether new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for residuals of nosebleeds on an accrued benefits basis, based on a finding that a September 1999 letter amounted to an informal claim.

The appeal is being remanded due to the appellant's request for a Board hearing at a local VA office. The case will be returned to the Board after scheduling the Veteran for a hearing.

The Veteran's pleurisy is found to be related to his service-connected residuals of a spontaneous pneumothorax, and thus service connection for this condition is granted.

The Veteran died of metastatic lung carcinoma with pulmonary emphysema contributing to death. Neither condition was service-connected at the time of his death, and there is no evidence of herbicide exposure during service.

The Board finds that the Veteran's skin condition, including lesions on his head and left foot, is related to his service, specifically Agent Orange exposure. The other skin conditions are not likely due to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for trichuriasis was denied as he failed to appear for a necessary VA examination without providing good cause.

The Veteran's malignant gastrointestinal stromal cell tumor, claimed as stomach cancer, was not incurred in or aggravated by active service and is not otherwise related to service. As such, the claim for service connection is denied.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including affording the Veteran a VA examination to address his bilateral optic atrophy and TDIU claim.

The Veteran's service-connected defective vision of the left eye and scotoma, para-central, have been rated as 20 percent and 10 percent disabling respectively. The Board finds that these ratings are appropriate based on the current evidence of record.

The Veteran is seeking VA compensation for memory loss and speech impairment allegedly caused by prescribed medication. The case was remanded to obtain additional evidence, but the examination report from the VA examiner did not provide sufficient rationale or opinion regarding the cause of the disability.

The Board denied increased ratings for cold injury residuals of the right and left hands, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 7122.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (ankylosing spondylitis) preclude him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for varicose veins and left leg thrombosis, finding that preexisting varicose vein disability was not aggravated by service.,Left leg thrombosis is unrelated to varicose veins or service.

The Board found that the appellant's income exceeded the maximum annual pension rate, leading to a reduction and termination of her VA death pension benefits effective December 1, 2004, and August 1, 2006.