Other conditions decisions — 2013

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected irregular heartbeat disorder and whether he has other heart conditions related to service or secondary to his service-connected condition.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a rectal disorder, but the issue remains unresolved as new evidence does not establish a causal relationship between his current condition and military service.

The Veteran's appeal for non-service-connected pension benefits from May 1, 2008 to October 1, 2009 is dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his claim. The issue of entitlement to pension benefits beginning October 1, 2009 is moot since he is currently in receipt of such benefits.

The Board found that there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection for the Veteran's gastrointestinal disability, as it did not exist during or immediately after service and was not related to any service-connected condition.

The Board found no evidence linking the Veteran's current skin disorders to his active service, including exposure to UV treatment during service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected chronic right epididymitis has not resulted in any disabling symptoms such as urinary tract infections, voiding dysfunction, or renal dysfunction. As a result, he is not entitled to a compensable rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and an addendum opinion regarding the relationship between his service-connected left knee disability and his right hand disorder.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back injury and arthritis, finding new and material evidence. The claims are both granted.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed in the form of medical examinations to determine the nature and etiology of any current left foot and toe disability, genital rash, bilateral hearing loss disability, and tinnitus. The Veteran's claims are being remanded for these purposes.

The Board has determined that an examination is needed to determine if the Veteran's L5-S1 disc bulge was permanently worsened by his May 2005 period of INACDUTRA, and whether this worsening was beyond the natural progression of the disorder.

The Veteran's cause of death, esophageal cancer with metastases to the brain, is not service-connected as it was neither incurred during service nor related to herbicide exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for a hiatal hernia and awarded a 10 percent evaluation effective April 8, 1999. The left toe disorder issue is remanded due to new evidence received since the last SSOC.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's patent foramen ovale, a congenital heart defect, is service-connected. The cardiac disability claim remains pending as it was not definitively resolved.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected residuals of a fractured maxilla do not warrant a compensable rating, as there is no evidence of displacement or other functional impairment.

The Veteran's left ankle disability has been manifested by symptoms of continuous pain, stiffness, loss of plantar flexion, and loss of dorsal flexion. The Board finds that the disability more closely approximates marked limitation of motion of the left ankle, warranting a 20 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 5271.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acute myelogenous leukemia, status post allogenic transplant and neutropenic fever is due to disease or injury incurred in service, and therefore grants his claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have recognized active military service for the purpose of obtaining the one-time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund, and therefore legal entitlement to this benefit is denied.

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

The Veteran does not have a current disability of nerve damage to the left face due to his extracted wisdom teeth, and the Board finds that there is no causal relationship between the service-connected extraction and the claimed condition.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a lung condition allegedly due to asbestos exposure during his military service. The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling an examination.