Other conditions decisions — 2013

The Veteran's service-connected Raynaud's syndrome is currently rated at 10 percent, effective June 4, 2011. The Board found that the symptoms did not warrant a higher rating prior to this date.

The Veteran claims service connection for loss of teeth due to trauma and other dental disorders, seeking VA compensation and outpatient dental treatment. The case is being remanded for additional development including a new VA Compensation and Pension dental examination.

The appeal is being remanded to the RO for further review of the appellant's claim, including consideration of new evidence submitted by him.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) has been denied. The effective dates for both claims are set at November 12, 2002.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have recognized active military service for the purpose of obtaining a one-time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for legal entitlement to the one-time payment from the FVEC Fund due to a lack of qualifying service with the United States Armed Forces.

The case is being remanded to the VAMC for further development and consideration of the claim, including determining if the appellant is a proper claimant and considering any applicable amendments to VA regulations.

The Board found that the Veteran's pelvic tilt and right lower extremity shortening are not related to his service, as there was no evidence of a chronic disability during service. The current symptoms were first reported many years after service.

The Board has determined that a timely substantive appeal was filed within the required time frame, and thus grants the appellant's claim for payment from the FVEC fund.

The Board has remanded the case to the RO for further action, including providing an SOC and allowing the appellant to perfect her appeal.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected psychoneurosis, conversion reaction, chronic, moderate was denied as the evidence does not show that he currently has a psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for his service-connected right knee and left facial nerve disabilities have been denied. The evidence does not support a rating in excess of the currently assigned ratings.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the extent of visual field loss and any visible or palpable tissue loss associated with his traumatic mydriasis.

The Veteran does not have a chronic neurological disability, to include stroke with vision loss due to thiamine deficiency that had its onset in active service or manifest to a compensable degree within one year after discharge from active service and is not the result of a service-connected disease or injury or associated surgical treatment.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative changes of the thoracic spine does not manifest objective neurological abnormalities, such as bladder and bowel impairment or radiculopathy to the upper and lower extremities. Therefore, he is not entitled to a separate rating for these conditions.

The Veteran's treatment at Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center was not authorized by VA and did not meet the criteria for emergency treatment. The Board found that prior authorization was not obtained, and thus denied the claim.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant through his authorized representative before a decision was made.

The Veteran requested an earlier effective date for polycythemia vera, but withdrew his appeal prior to the Board's decision.

The Board denied the appellant's request for reimbursement of $2,310.00 as an outstanding expense related to a Specially Adapted Housing project because it was not incurred before the Veteran's death and did not relate to any approved expenses.

The Veteran's income was found to be excessive for the purposes of establishing eligibility for nonservice-connected pension benefits in all four years (2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012).