Other conditions decisions — 2013

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinion on whether the Veteran's liver disorder is aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus. The claim will be readjudicated after obtaining an appropriate medical opinion.

The Board denied the Appellant's claim for a one-time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund due to lack of service in the U.S. Armed Forces.

The Veteran's diastasis recti was found to have its onset during active duty and is therefore service-connected.

The Veteran's pleural plaques disability is rated at a 30 percent rating for the period beginning September 14, 2011. The issue of entitlement to TDIU remains pending.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for shortness of breath and a dry cough, claimed as scars on the lungs and variously diagnosed as including pulmonary hypertension, has been denied. The Board found no competent evidence to show that the Veteran had a diagnosis of a lung or respiratory disorder during his active duty service or at any time thereafter.

The Board found that the Veteran's left hip disorder did not originate in service, is not related to any incident during active service and is not directly related to or aggravated by any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings for Osgood-Schlatter disease of the right and left knees have been withdrawn by his representative.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the severity of the Veteran's left index finger disability and to obtain relevant service records for his right ear cholesteatoma.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current bilateral eye disorder, including myopia and photokeratitis, is not service-connected as there is no probative evidence establishing a diagnosis of photokeratitis or any superimposed injury related to military service. The medical evidence does not support a connection between the Veteran's current condition and his active duty.

The Board has found that the Veteran's stroke in 2003 was caused by his long-standing atrial fibrillation, which began during service. As this is a direct connection without any presumption or secondary condition involved, the claim for service connection is granted.

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

The Veteran's claim for compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. � 1151 for residuals of trabeculectomy surgery on October 4, 2005 is being remanded due to missing records and the need for additional development.

The Board denied the claim as the appellant did not have qualifying service in the Philippine Commonwealth Army, including recognized guerrillas, prior to July 1, 1946. The NPRC certified that the appellant had no such service.

The Veteran's death occurred before the creation of the FVEC Fund, and thus he was not eligible for a one-time payment from this fund as his claim would have been filed too late.

The Board found that the appellant's annual income exceeded the income limit established by the Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR) for the period from August 2010 through July 2011, and therefore denied his claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits during this time.

The Veteran's request for an extension of her Chapter 30 educational benefits beyond April 10, 2009 was denied as she did not meet the criteria under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the effective date for the grant of service connection for traumatic degenerative joint disease, right knee is October 23, 2009.

The Board has determined that prior authorization for the treatment provided at Memorial Hermann Woodlands Hospital was given by VA, and thus reimbursement or payment is granted.

The Board found that the preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran's lung disorder is related to his military service, including exposure to hazardous chemicals.

The Board has determined that the deceased did not have qualifying service in 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.