Other conditions decisions — 2013

The Veteran's claim for accrued benefits for residuals of cold injury was denied as there is no medical evidence linking the condition to his active military service.,The cause of death claim, including under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151, was also denied due to a lack of medical evidence connecting any disability to service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the RO for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The case will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's atherosclerotic hypertensive retinal vascular changes were rated as noncompensable from March 9, 2004 to July 25, 2007 and assigned a 30 percent rating from July 26, 2007 to September 10, 2007. The Board found the evidence did not support higher ratings.

The Veteran's partial loss of the pancreas and residual cholecystectomy are not deemed to be due to carelessness, negligence, or lack of proper skill on the part of VA in providing medical treatment at a VAMC in August 1980.

The Veteran's calluses of the feet are related to service and have been granted service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death (cardiogenic shock due to acute myocardial infarct) was not caused or contributed to by his service-connected malaria, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a SOC regarding the validity of his debt and the issuance of a VA Form 5655 (Financial Status Report).

The appellant's income exceeds the maximum allowable for death pension benefits, and therefore she is not entitled to these benefits.

The Veteran's shrapnel wound, right mid-calf, is currently rated at 10 percent and not entitled to an increased rating. The claims for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and PTSD are also denied.

The Veteran is granted an initial 10 percent rating for right thumb flexor tendonitis, with a functional loss resulting in pain and swelling during flare-ups or repetitive motion.

The Veteran is granted service connection for the loosening of tooth number 9, status post trauma, for VA treatment purposes. However, he is denied service connection for this condition for VA compensation purposes.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and additional VA treatment records, as her last examination was from almost three years ago.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral flatfeet is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and further development of his medical records.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is being remanded due to the need to obtain additional VA treatment records, SSA disability benefits determination and medical records used in adjudicating such award, as well as University Kansas Medical Center records.

The Veteran did not have active service during a period of war, nor served in Vietnam. Therefore, the appellant does not meet the threshold requirement for eligibility to nonservice-connected death pension benefits.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for his myofascial pain syndrome with a protruded left intervertebral disc was denied. The VA determined that the evidence did not meet the criteria for higher disability ratings under the applicable rating codes.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for the residuals of cold injury to his lower extremities is being remanded due to a need for additional development, including obtaining STRs and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertensive vascular disease is being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions and possibly Social Security Administration records.

The Board found that the appellant did not have recognized service as a member of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, including the recognized guerrillas, in the service of the United States Armed Forces. Therefore, he is not eligible for one-time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for VA home loan guaranty benefits due to a lack of qualifying service, as he did not meet the six-year requirement and several years from 1969 to December 1972 were not creditable towards this requirement.