Other conditions decisions — 2013

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's skin disorders of both feet and left hand were not incurred or aggravated by his period of active military service, including exposure to Agent Orange. The Board denied the claims for service connection.

The Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of October 8, 2004 for the award of a 100 percent evaluation for paranoid schizoaffective disorder is dismissed.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current bilateral eye condition is not service-connected, as it is considered a natural progression of her in-service radial keratotomy (RK) procedure which improved her pre-existing nearsightedness.

The Board has dismissed the claim of entitlement to service connection for residuals of a head injury, claimed as a seizure disorder due to the death of the decedent during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board found that the Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the floor of the mouth was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and specifically denied service connection on a direct basis due to lack of evidence linking it to his active duty. The claim was also not considered for presumptive service connection based on exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's left thumb disability is manifested by degenerative osteoarthritis, tenderness to palpation, and flare-ups of joint symptoms. A 10 percent rating has been granted for the service-connected left thumb disability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for a right upper extremity disorder and a back disorder. The current symptoms are not related to her military service.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have qualifying service as a member of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, including recognized guerrillas, in the service of the United States Armed Forces. Therefore, they do not meet the eligibility requirements for benefits from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund.

The Board found that the Veteran's current body rash is not related to his active duty service, including exposure to poison ivy. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has denied the appellant's claim for a one-time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund due to lack of qualifying service as a member of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, including recognized guerrillas, in the service of the United States Armed Forces during World War II.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have qualifying service as a member of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, including recognized guerrillas in the service of the United States Armed Forces. Therefore, he is ineligible for a one-time payment from the FVEC Fund.

The Board denied the appellant's claim of being the Veteran's surviving spouse, finding that she was not entitled to VA death benefits due to her divorce from the Veteran at the time of his death.

The VA determined that the Veteran's current right knee arthritis disability was not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded due to the appellant requesting a videoconference hearing. The eligibility for payment of attorney fees from past-due benefits resulting from an April 2011 rating decision remains pending.

The Veteran's appeal for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for gastrointestinal disability due to treatment provided and medications prescribed by VA has been dismissed because the Veteran died during the pendency of his appeal.

The Veteran's stress fracture residuals of the right and left fifth metatarsals are rated at 20 percent each, which is higher than the requested schedular ratings. The appeal for extra-schedular ratings will be remanded.

The Board found that the Veteran's current bilateral foot disorder is not related to service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has ordered additional development to verify the specific dates of the appellant's Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA) and Inactive Duty for Training (INACDUTRA). The claim will be remanded for further action.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA medical opinion regarding the severity of his service-connected spondylolisthesis at L5-S1 and whether it represents 'chronic' manifestations. The TDIU claim will also be addressed.