Other conditions decisions — 2013

The Veteran's son is seeking recognition as a helpless child for VA benefits due to permanent incapacity for self-support before reaching the age of 18. The case has been remanded for further action.

The Veteran's total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oopherectomy performed at a private facility are not eligible for 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 benefits as the surgery was not provided in a Department facility.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is dismissed as it cannot be challenged directly without timely disagreement or new and material evidence within one year.

The Veteran's request for a hearing before the Board at the RO has been scheduled, but he did not attend. The case is now being remanded to schedule another hearing.

The Board found that the Veteran's current hearing loss was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have qualifying service to be eligible for a one-time payment from the FVEC Fund.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for adjustment disorder with depressed mood has been withdrawn, and thus the case is dismissed.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not meet the legal requirements for obtaining a one-time payment from the FVEC Fund and thus denied his claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lung disorder, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his active duty service.

The Veteran's disability rating for adenocarcinoma of the prostate was reduced from 100% to noncompensable effective April 1, 2006.,A separate 20% evaluation has been assigned for his service-connected diarrhea since September 24, 2010.

The Board found that the Veteran's chronic acquired psychiatric disorder, most commonly and recently diagnosed as schizoaffective disorder, was incurred in service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and ensuring all relevant evidence is considered. The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for a right elbow disability will be reconsidered.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and opinions regarding the Veteran's exposure to herbicides in Vietnam. The claim will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Board denied recognition of the Appellant as the surviving spouse of the Veteran in August 2003, and no new and material evidence has been presented to reopen this claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disorder manifested by sexual dysfunction that is related to active service or is secondary to any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's right inguinal hernia disability, including the associated nerve entrapment and orchialgia/spermatic cord pain, has been manifested by tenderness to light touch at the right inguinal region and scrotum. The current level of disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 30 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic liver disability, which required a liver transplant, was incurred in active military service due to moderate alcohol use during his service.

The Board found that the Veteran's ulcerative colitis was not present in service or until many years thereafter and was neither caused nor aggravated by service or an incident of service origin, including to his service-connected hemorrhoids.

The Board found no evidence of a left hand injury during service and the Veteran's claim was denied as his current disability is not related to active duty.

The Board found that the Veteran's left varicocele clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.