Other conditions decisions — 2013

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a VA examination to determine if her pre-existing hearing loss was aggravated by service, and for further development of the medical evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to insufficient evidence and needs further development, including obtaining SSA records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for lymphoma and a disorder manifested by stomach or abdominal pain are being remanded due to the need for VA examinations to determine if these conditions are related to his military service, including presumed exposure to herbicides. The Veteran has not been provided with an examination in this regard.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for peripheral vascular disease was granted with an effective date of March 18, 2008.,Effective dates were established for the grant of service connection for peripheral vascular disease of both lower extremities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep disorder, residuals of concussion, and hypertension. The Veteran's claim for right foot metatarsal fusion was not granted as he did not meet the criteria for a compensable disability evaluation. The left knee effusion and right shoulder strain with internal derangement were also not granted initial evaluations in excess of 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for service-connected otitis externa was denied. The Board found that the schedular rating criteria adequately described his disability level and symptomatology, thus no referral for extraschedular consideration was required.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a one-time payment from the FVEC Fund due to lack of service as a member of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, including recognized guerrillas, in the service of the United States Armed Forces.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance was denied in a March 2004 rating decision. He filed another claim on January 28, 2010, which resulted in an effective date of January 28, 2009.

The appellant does not have recognized active military service for the purposes of obtaining the one-time payment from the FVEC Fund, and therefore their claim is denied.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for a one-time payment from the FVEC fund due to lack of documented or certified service in the United States Armed Forces.

The Veteran's cause of death, cholangiocarcinoma, is found to be related to his exposure to parasites during service in Vietnam.

The Veteran suffered additional right eye disability as a result of complications during the January 2011 cataract surgery, but no additional left eye disability was found. The claim is granted for the right eye disability and denied for the left eye disability.

The Veteran's respiratory disability, aspergillosis status post partial lobectomy and thoracotomy, has resulted in a FEV-1 predominantly between 40 and 55 after treatment with bronchodilator. The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing evidence and a need for VCAA compliance. The appellant's claim of entitlement to nonservice-connected death pension benefits will be reconsidered after all necessary development is completed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for breathing problems, including under the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 3.317, is denied as there is no evidence that his current conditions are related to his military service.

The Board has determined that a left foot nodule, claimed as Ledderhose nodule, was caused by the same disease process (Dupuytren's contractures of the hands) and is therefore service-connected.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, SSA disability determination, and a VA psychiatric and HIV-related illness examination. The Veteran's claims of entitlement to an increased rating for HIV disease and TDIU are also being addressed.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and examination, including obtaining additional medical records and a VA examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for left eye disability will be reconsidered based on the new evidence and findings.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a bilateral foot disorder has been withdrawn before the Board could make a decision.

The Veteran's pituitary gland tumor was not incurred in or aggravated by military service and may not be presumed to have been incurred in service due to herbicide exposure.