Other conditions decisions — 2013

The Board found that the Veteran's NHL is in remission and thus, his disability rating should be reduced from 100% to noncompensable (zero percent).

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for residuals of a concussion or other head injury, an ear disability (including otitis media and eustachian tube dysfunction), and an eye disability. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss remains pending.,An eye disability was found to be related to in-service trauma.

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and review of the evidence, including whether the Veteran's vocal cord disorder is related to Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have residuals of malaria and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied.

The VA determined that the Veteran's current sleep disorder is not linked to his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal of the claim for an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bone island and pain, right hip is dismissed. The Board grants service connection for a right hip disorder manifested by early degenerative joint disease or greater trochanteric bursitis as secondary to service-connected right Achilles tenoplasty.

The Veteran's service-connected knee disabilities have been rated based on the severity of their symptoms, with different ratings assigned for different periods of time. The appeals are denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's cerebrovascular accident is related to his service-connected conditions or an in-service head injury.

The Board found that the appellant did not have qualifying service and therefore does not meet the requirements for basic eligibility to receive a one-time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral defective vision is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his medical records and examination.

The Veteran's claim for a one-time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund was denied because he did not have qualifying service as defined by VA regulations.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a prostate disorder, which he claims started during his military service and may be related to herbicide exposure in Vietnam. The VA has not provided an adequate examination or medical opinion regarding the relationship between the current prostate disorder and active service.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for tumor and nerve removal from the spine due to new evidence received since the final denial. However, the Veteran's condition is not considered related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected urethral stricture was granted, with the effective date being the date of claim (September 2007). The VA assigned a 20% evaluation based on urinary frequency symptoms.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the addition of the Veteran's spouse as his dependent, finding that the earliest response to VA's request for specific information regarding the month and year his spouse married her first husband and the month and year she divorced him was received on April 16, 2008. The effective date assigned was May 1, 2008.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Raynaud's syndrome and squamous cell carcinoma of the right temple are not related to service, including herbicide exposure. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected bronchial asthma/COPD did not cause or contribute to his death from esophageal cancer, as there was no evidence of chronic GERD related to his use of asthma medications.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a fractured nose have been rated at the maximum schedular rating (10%) since August 7, 2009.

The Board is remanding the Veteran's claim for a higher rating for chest pain and shortness of breath due to undiagnosed illness, including the propriety of reducing his rating from 100 percent to 10 percent effective April 1, 2010. The case requires further development as an additional VA examination is needed.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disease or disability. The claim for burial benefits and accrued benefits is denied.