Other conditions decisions — 2013

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have qualifying service for benefits under the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation (FVEC) Fund, and thus is denied legal entitlement to a one-time payment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for esophagitis, gastritis, and peptic duodenitis are being remanded due to the need for a follow-up medical opinion regarding his claimed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 30 percent evaluation for ulcerative colitis is denied as there is no evidence of any prior claims or supporting medical records indicating entitlement to such rating within one year before May 15, 2006.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran is not permanently and totally disabled due to a nonservice-connected disability that is not the result of his willful misconduct, and therefore does not meet the requirements for nonservice-connected pension benefits.

The Veteran's left little finger deformity has been rated at 10 percent, the maximum schedular rating available for limitation of motion of a single digit (major or minor), due to interference with overall function of the hand.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right club foot disability was permanently aggravated by his active military service, and therefore grants entitlement to service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a right pubic ramus fracture, to include residual tendonitis of the adductor magnus tendon, are currently rated at 10 percent and do not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for pain and weakness in the lower extremities, including as due to exposure at Camp Lejeune, is being remanded for additional development.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability or otherwise attributable to his military service, and thus denied the claim for dependency and indemnity compensation.

The Board found that the Veteran's current right and left lower extremity arthritis is not related to his military service, including exposure to cold temperatures. The claim was denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's bilateral hip osteoarthritis was not incurred in or aggravated by service and is not related to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's son, KB, is recognized as a helpless child due to his lifelong intellectual disability and permanent incapacity for self-support prior to reaching the age of 18.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for adenocarcinoma sigmoid colon (claimed as colon cancer), including as secondary to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining a supplemental medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral hand disability and whether it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected shoulder and upper back disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have an auditory processing disorder and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of private medical expenses incurred from April 21, 2009 to April 22, 2009 is granted as the criteria for emergency care under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1725 have been met.

The Veteran's bronchiectasis and right middle lobe lobectomy do not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a left inguinal hernia, but the evidence does not support this claim as there is no record of such surgery in his military records. The case is remanded to obtain additional relevant information and evidence.

The appeal is being remanded due to a technical issue with the recording of one appellant's hearing. The case will be scheduled for another hearing and reviewed.