Other conditions decisions — 2013

The Board has granted service connection for chronic psychosis and assigned an effective date of July 28, 1987. The Veteran's claim was reopened in 1987 based on new evidence submitted by her.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his shell fragment wounds have been denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's service treatment records do not show a diagnosis of malaria. The VA examiner found no medical evidence in the service treatment records to support a diagnosis of malaria and noted that the gastroenteritis/enteritis condition was an acute illness with no residuals. Therefore, the Board finds that service connection for malaria is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's discoid lupus erythematous clearly and unmistakably preexisted his second period of active service, which began in February 2003. The condition was also clearly and unmistakably aggravated by this period of service. However, the Board concluded that lupus is not etiologically related to any disease, injury or other event in service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his stomach disorder, specifically whether it is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected old healed fracture of the fifth metacarpal bone of the left hand is currently evaluated as noncompensable. The Board finds that this evaluation adequately reflects the impairment caused by the disability.

The Veteran's skin cancer, which includes basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, is considered a radiogenic disease. The VA determined that the Veteran was exposed to ionizing radiation during service in Japan from December 1950 to February 1951. However, due to lack of available medical records, the claim for service connection could not be substantiated.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a respiratory disorder is being remanded due to the inadequacy of previous examinations and the need for further medical evaluation.

The Board has decided the case needs further medical evaluation and records to properly adjudicate the claim of service connection for peripheral vascular disease, which is secondary to service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have recognized active military service as required to establish eligibility for FVEC Fund benefits under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

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

The Veteran's cause of death was determined to be cardio respiratory arrest, secondary to a stroke. The Board found no service connection for the cause of death and denied eligibility for nonservice-connected death pension due to lack of evidence linking any condition to service.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary to resolve the validity of an overpayment of Department of Veterans' Affairs Chapter 30, Title 38 U.S.C., Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) education benefits. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Veteran's request for special monthly compensation based on need for aid and attendance or by reason of being housebound has been remanded due to the failure to conduct a scheduled videoconference hearing. The Veteran will be notified of the date, time, and location of the rescheduled hearing.

The appellant is not eligible for a one-time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund due to lack of qualifying service.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the increased rating for the service-connected right foot condition. As a result, the Board does not have jurisdiction to review this matter.

The Veteran's service-connected left little finger disability has been manifested by ankylosis at the PIP joint that would be equally well served by amputation at that level, and he is granted a 10 percent initial disability rating for this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's left and right hip disorders are not related to her active service or a service-connected disability, including via aggravation. The disorders did not manifest within one year of her discharge from service.

The Board found that the Veteran's adenocarcinoma of the sigmoid colon did not have its onset during active service or within one year after service, and is not related to any in-service disease, event, or injury. It was also determined that it may not be presumed to have been caused by exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected prostatitis and for further development regarding his TDIU claim.