Other conditions decisions — 2012

The Veteran's service-connected thoracic spine disability is currently rated at 20 percent, but the evidence does not support a higher rating based on his current symptomatology.

The Board has granted service connection for degenerative joint disease in the right knee, finding that it is presumed to have been incurred during active service.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic constipation is found to be causally related to her active duty service, and she is granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claimed gastric/duodenal ulcers and gallbladder removal were not incurred or aggravated by service. The Board found no evidence of chronic disabilities during service, and the current conditions are not related to service.

The Veteran's service-connected vallecular growth, right side of throat with tonsillectomy and right styloidectomy is currently rated as 10 percent disabling. The Board has granted an additional noncompensable rating for paralysis of the twelfth (hypoglossal) cranial nerve associated with this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and a compensable disability rating are being remanded due to the need to schedule him for a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the RO in St. Petersburg, Florida.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was not submitted to reopen the claims for service connection for dysthymia and a chronic disability manifested by memory loss, which were previously denied in September 1996.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining medical records and opinions regarding the Veteran's left hip disability.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at the Halifax Medical Center from March 28, 2007 to May 29, 2007 are granted as they meet the criteria for reimbursement under VA regulations.

The Veteran's service is not considered qualifying for non-service-connected disability pension benefits due to having less than 90 days of active wartime service and no adjudged service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim of entitlement to service connection for a right ring finger disability, resulting in a denial.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral foot disorders are related to his active duty service, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been presented to reopen the claim of whether the character of the appellant's discharge is a bar to VA benefits. The Veteran argues he was insane at the time of committing offenses leading to his discharge.

The Board has determined that the appellant is recognized as the surviving spouse of the Veteran for purposes of entitlement to VA death benefits.

The Veteran served at U-Tapao Royal Thai Air Force Base and contends his Waldenstrom's macroglobinemia is related to herbicide exposure. The RO denied service connection due to lack of Vietnam-era service, but the Veteran presented evidence suggesting he was exposed to herbicides in Thailand. Further investigation into the use of herbicides at U-Tapao RTAFB and the composition of any used herbicides is needed.

The Veteran seeks reimbursement for education courses taken from May 2006 to September 2006. The case is remanded due to the need for additional evidence, including verification of service and correspondence with the Board of Corrections for Naval Records and Marine Expeditionary Force's Disbursing Office.

The Board has reopened the appellant's claim regarding whether his character of discharge is a bar to VA benefits, but denied the claim on the merits. The RO found new and material evidence since the March 1996 administrative decision.

The Veteran's service does not meet the basic criteria for eligibility to nonservice-connected pension benefits as he did not serve during a period of war.

The Veteran's claims are being remanded to the RO for a Board hearing, and no action is required by the Appellant until further notice.

The Veteran served with the USAFFE and passed away before the enactment of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which provides for a one-time payment from the FVEC Fund. The appellant is his surviving spouse. Since the law does not permit recovery from the FVEC fund for claims initiated by a surviving spouse in the first instance, the claim is denied.