Other conditions decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that further development is needed to ensure all relevant evidence is considered in the decision on appeal, including obtaining VA medical records and opinions regarding the cause of death.

The Veteran was awarded retroactive CRDP in the amount of $1,865 for the time period from June 1, 2007 to June 1, 2008 based on the adjustment to her VA benefits due to the additional amount of dependent children.

The Board found that the appellant's deceased spouse did not have qualifying service as a Veteran, and therefore is not eligible for VA benefits.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for a one-time payment from the FVEC fund due to lack of service certification by the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC).

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to assess the residuals of his service-connected status-post circumcision with groin injury.

The Board has remanded the case to the Pension Management Center for a hearing before the RO, and the appellant's claim to reopen service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death remains pending.

The Board found that the Veteran's right and left lower extremity disabilities, including foot conditions, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The disabilities are considered to be unrelated to any in-service injury or disease.

The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of a current right hip disorder or any link between the Veteran's service and his claimed condition, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the reduction of the Veteran's evaluation for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma right orbital region from 100 percent to 0 percent, effective June 1, 2009, was proper.

The Veteran's service-connected hypertensive retinopathy has not resulted in any visual impairment, and his TDIU claim is denied as he does not meet the criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Veteran's service-connected chondromalacia patella of the right knee has not been manifested by lateral instability or recurrent subluxation, but is productive of painful motion without additional functional loss to limit flexion to 45 degrees or less, or to limit extension to 10 degrees or more.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to a change in the hearing officer. The appellant is seeking service connection for the cause of her husband's death and accrued benefits.

The Veteran's skin disorder, characterized by actinic keratosis with fungus infection of the feet, papular lichenification, and stucco keratitis, has been rated at 60 percent since February 25, 2008. This rating is effective as of that date.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the impact of kidney disease on cardiovascular functioning and considering whether there was a clear and unmistakable error in assigning an 80 percent evaluation based on persistent edema and albuminuria.

The Veteran's left leg soleus muscle strain has been evaluated at a 10 percent rating since the grant of service connection in August 2007. The current VA examination findings do not warrant an increase to any higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's mitral valve prolapse and peptic ulcer disease were not incurred in or aggravated by service, but are still considered for accrued benefits purposes as they may be related to her service-connected fibromyalgia.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an increased rating greater than 20 percent for acid peptic disease.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at A. O. Fox Hospital from February 28 to March 1, 2009 is denied because the criteria for payment or reimbursement under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1725 and 38 C.F.R. § 17.1002 are not met.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings for onychomycosis of both feet with a left ingrown toenail, post surgical removal has been withdrawn. The Board has dismissed the appeal as there are no remaining issues to consider.

The Board found that the Veteran's current degenerative joint disease in both knees did not result from his service, and denied service connection for bilateral knee disability.