Other conditions decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that the Veteran's spouse requires regular aid and attendance due to her physical disabilities, including complex regional pain syndrome of the upper and lower extremities and bilateral thoracic outlet syndrome. The decision grants special monthly compensation for this need.

The Board has decided that the case should be returned to the RO for additional development and consideration of the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hip disorder, which is secondary to his service-connected bilateral knee or lumbar spine disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining an orthopedic examination and addressing specific medical opinions regarding the Veteran's back disorders.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and arranging for appropriate examinations to determine the nature, extent, onset, etiology of any disabilities found to be present.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and arranging for a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected duodenal ulcer.

The Veteran's digestive disorder is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a new examination. The TDIU claim also requires the inclusion of the April 2010 VA compensation examination report.

The Veteran's adjustment disorder with depressed mood is granted at a 50 percent evaluation, effective from January 29, 2009. The claim for an increased evaluation of the service-connected lower back arthritis with spondylolysis, L5 remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his lumbar spine condition is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and clarification of whether he still desires an RO hearing.

The Veteran's left arm disability has been granted service connection and assigned a 10 percent initial rating, effective May 21, 2008.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a VA examination to determine the current extent of his service-connected keratoconjunctivitis sicca and whether any other eye conditions are related to service or the service-connected disorder. The case will be reviewed again after the examination.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have current diagnoses of malaria, a right hand disability, or a skin disorder. Therefore, service connection for these conditions was denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's gunshot wound residuals are related to his active duty service and thus grants these claims.

The Board has granted service connection for gout, finding that the Veteran experienced chronic symptoms during service and continuous symptomatology since discharge. The claim is denied for other conditions.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened and are now being addressed on their merits. The Board finds new and material evidence to support the reopening of his claims for skin disorder and psychophysiologic GI reaction.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected residuals of a gunshot wound to the right hand, with amputations at the distal tips of two fingers (index and ring), is currently evaluated as 20 percent disabling. The disability picture does not warrant a higher evaluation.

The claim for service connection of a gall bladder disorder was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence, but it remains denied as there is no direct link between in-service symptoms and current diagnoses.,An earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for hypertensive cardiovascular disease has been denied because there were no pending claims prior to October 9, 1997.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for a one-time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund as the decedent did not have qualifying service and had passed away more than 31 years prior to the enactment of the legislation.

The Veteran's diagnosed ependymoma, to include subependymoma, is granted as likely as not related to his participation in vibration impact studies during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining clinical and treatment records from U.S. Army Hospitals in Long Binh and Cam Ranh Bay where the Veteran was treated for his back injury during service.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred on September 10, 2010, for chest pain, speech changes, and psychogenic dysphonia were reimbursed because a VA facility was not feasibly available at the time of treatment.