Other conditions decisions — 2014

The Veteran's injury to Muscle Group VI resulted in severe disability, warranting a 30 percent rating. The service connection claim for the left leg disability was granted.

The Veteran does not have a current disability of malaria or residuals of malaria. The Board finds that the weight of the evidence demonstrates that the Veteran does not have current malaria (to include residuals).,Resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran, the criteria for service connection for residuals of a head injury are met.

The Board found that the Veteran does not currently have nephropathy, and thus service connection for this condition is denied.

The Board found that there was no evidence of a ganglion cyst on the Veteran's right foot from December 11, 2012. Therefore, a compensable evaluation is not warranted for his service-connected ganglion cyst of the right foot during this period.

The Board found that the currently assigned evaluation of 30 percent for the Veteran's resultant adhesions is appropriate and there is no basis for a higher evaluation.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by a disease or injury incurred in service, and denied the claim for service connection for the cause of death.

The Veteran's right and left eye disabilities have been assigned non-compensable initial disability ratings. The Veteran's alopecia areata has also not resulted in a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and requesting an addendum opinion from a medical professional to address whether any current left calf disability is related to the June 1990 injury.

The Veteran's left foot hammer toe resection and left Achilles tendonitis are manifested by moderate disability, warranting a 10% rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the relationship between his oral cancers and service exposure to herbicide agents.

The appellant's claim for a one-time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund was denied because he did not have qualifying service and therefore is not eligible for VA benefits.

The Board has determined that there is no valid common law marriage between the Veteran and the appellant, as required for VA benefits purposes. The Veteran consistently stated he was never married.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of posttraumatic arthritis of the right middle finger was denied as there is no evidence that she filed a claim prior to December 22, 2010.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to the appellant's incarceration and requests for a hearing. The claim will be reviewed again after the additional actions are taken.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred in August 2010 at Northern Michigan Regional Hospital was denied because he had not received medical services under the authority of 38 U.S.C. Chapter 17 within the previous 24 months.

The Board found that the Veteran's right hand disorder (diagnosed as a tremor) is not related to service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board found that the Veteran's irrevocable election for Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits was not properly completed, resulting in a denial of her claim.

The Veteran's effective dates for the 80% disability evaluation for narcolepsy and TDIU have been granted as of September 29, 2005. The earlier effective date is not warranted.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal concerning the increased rating for residuals of osteochondroma excision.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling an addendum opinion from a VA examiner to determine if the Veteran's HIV-related illness is related to his service-connected PTSD.