Other conditions decisions — 2012

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have qualifying service for a one-time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund, and thus is denied.

The Board found no evidence of bilateral hallux valgus in service or thereafter, and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection. For his cold injury residuals, the Board concluded that the preponderance of the evidence indicated they were not related to service.

The Veteran's left elbow disability is related to his active service, and the Board finds in favor of granting service connection for this condition. The gastrointestinal disability claim remains pending as no firm diagnosis has been made.

The Board has found that the Veteran's current psoriatic arthritis disability is caused or aggravated by his service-connected psoriasis, and therefore grants the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection and a 100% rating for multiple myeloma was granted in July 2003. The appellant is seeking an earlier effective date for accrued benefits purposes, which the RO denied as there was no appeal of the effective date established in July 2003. The Board finds that additional development is needed to determine if any records from VA or the VAMC in Columbia, South Carolina, exist and are associated with the claims file.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a currently diagnosed right hand disability other than his service-connected trigger finger, and thus cannot establish service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for wrist and elbow disabilities, including CTS, are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and development of records.

The VA examiner diagnosed the Veteran with dementia, but concluded that it was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. The opinion from a VA psychologist also supported this conclusion.

The Board has determined that the claim for a one-time payment from the FVEC Fund requires additional development and is being remanded to the RO.

The Veteran's service-connected status post left second and third toe fractures are shown to be productive of a disability picture that more nearly approximates moderate foot impairment, warranting an initial evaluation of 10 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and the need for a VA examination to determine if the appellant's left hip arthritis is related to his military service.

The Veteran's death occurred prior to the enactment of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, preventing him from filing a claim for benefits under this act. As a result, his surviving spouse cannot collect benefits as a payee surviving spouse.

The Board found that new and material evidence had been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for an inguinal hernia. The Board also determined that the current disability requirement, continuity of symptomatology since service, and a nexus between in-service symptoms and current condition have all been met. However, the VA examiner concluded that it was less likely as not that the Veteran's inguinal hernia was related to his active service.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for a one-time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund due to lack of service as a member of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, including recognized guerrillas, in the service of the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II.

The Board has determined that the appellant is entitled to death pension benefits as of December 1, 2010, but no earlier. The appellant's claim for SMP based on need for aid and attendance was also granted.

The Veteran's mitral valve replacement residuals were shown to be manifested by an estimated workload of more than 3 up to 5 METs, without evidence of chronic congestive heart failure or left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of less than 30 percent. The criteria for a higher evaluation are not met.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date and a higher initial rating for his service-connected complications of stapedectomy of the left ear.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The issue of educational benefits for the Veteran's dependent child is moot as the Veteran died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic heart disability and denied the Veteran's claim for service connection.