Other conditions decisions — 2012

The Veteran's service-connected left and right hand strain disabilities have been found to not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation based on current symptomatology.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to issues with the examination report and in order to obtain additional information from the Veteran.

The Veteran's complete C7 quadriplegia is not etiologically related to a period of active military service, and the Board finds that service connection for this disability is denied.

The Veteran's chronic right hip disorder and left knee disorder are not service-connected. The Board found that the right hip disorder is not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability, while the left knee disorder was found to be etiologically related to his service-connected right knee disability.

The appellant's claim for a one-time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund is denied as he does not have qualifying service that meets the requirements of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for payment from the 'Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund' due to a lack of qualifying service in the United States Armed Forces, as determined by the National Personnel Records Center.

The Veteran seeks compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for complications resulting from a femoral artery bypass graft surgery performed on July 14, 2005. The surgery was allegedly negligent and resulted in the need for right foot amputation and partial scrotectomy.

The Veteran's death was not service connected, and he did not meet the criteria for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a right elbow disorder was denied as there is no current diagnosis of such condition and the in-service injury did not result in chronic disability.

The Veteran's bilateral eye disability is being remanded for further examination and opinion to determine if it is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by his service-connected sarcoidosis.

The Veteran's income exceeded the maximum allowable for payment of nonservice-connected VA pension benefits, resulting in denial of his claim.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not meet the eligibility requirements for a one-time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund due to lack of verified service in the United States Armed Forces.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation for right foot equinus, acquired claw foot, heloma and tyloma has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to the Board's decision.

The Board found that there is no competent medical evidence linking the Veteran's current autoimmune diseases, including lupus and Kukichi Fujimoto Syndrome, to his period of active service. The Veteran did not serve in Vietnam and thus herbicide exposure is not presumed. There was also no credible evidence supporting his claims of asbestos exposure during service.

The Veteran's ankylosing spondylitis of the thoracic-lumbar spine is currently rated at 20 percent, effective December 1, 2005. The Board found that a higher rating was not warranted for this period.

The Board denied the appellant's claim as his discharge from service was under conditions other than honorable, which constitutes a bar to VA benefits. The new evidence submitted does not change this determination.

The Board denied increased evaluations for traumatic arthritis of the right and left knees, finding that current manifestations do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed residuals of a gunshot wound of the chest and residuals of a shell fragment wound of the stomach are due to injuries sustained during his active service, granting service connection for both conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of interstitial lung disease has been granted, with the effective date set at October 6, 2010.

The Board found that the Veteran's cognitive disability with memory loss and neurological problems are not service-connected, as there is no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or a service-connected condition. The TDIU claim was also denied.