Other conditions decisions — 2013

The Veteran's only current eye disability related to service is a right cornea Descemet membrane fold. Service connection for any other eye disability has not been established.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional evidence and examination regarding his left shoulder disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have qualifying service to be eligible for the one-time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund.

The Board found that the overpayment of non-service-connected pension benefits was solely due to administrative error by VA, and thus not validly created. The debt is therefore denied.

The Board denied the claim for a one-time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund as there is no verified service in the Philippine Commonwealth Army, including recognized guerrillas, during World War II.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for a one-time payment from the FVEC Fund due to lack of qualifying service, as determined by the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC).

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and also denied entitlement to nonservice-connected pension benefits greater than $2020 per year.

The Veteran's back disorder was initially rated at 10 percent from September 1, 2006 to July 5, 2011 and increased to 20 percent effective July 6, 2011.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a chronic chest disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records from SSA and scheduling an examination.

The Veteran's service-connected malaria is inactive and without residuals, thus not meeting the criteria for a compensable disability rating.

The Veteran's Crohn's disease is currently rated at 60 percent since August 4, 2008.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining a VA examination addendum and obtaining any available treatment records.

The Veteran's Raynaud's syndrome of the hands is caused by his cold weather exposure during active duty service in Korea, and as such, he has established service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining records from T. Bertorini, M.D., and VA records since January 2008.

The Board determined that the Veteran's bilateral hand and abdominal disabilities were not incurred or aggravated during his period of active service, and denied both claims.

The Board found that the appellant and the Veteran were legally divorced at the time of the Veteran's death, thus preventing her from being recognized as his surviving spouse for VA benefits purposes.

The Veteran's claims for visual disorder and Crohn's disease are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding their etiology.

The Veteran's death was not caused by or substantially contributed to by a service-connected disability. The appellant did not file a claim for accrued benefits within one year of the Veteran's death, and her deceased husband had no qualifying military service for non-service-connected death pension benefits.

The Veteran's service-connected dermatophytosis of the feet and retinitis, left eye with active pathology have not been shown to warrant a higher evaluation.