Other conditions decisions — 2014

The Veteran's type II diabetes mellitus is presumed to have been incurred in wartime service. The Board finds that the Veteran has left eye vision loss and right eye vision loss, with strabismic amblyopia as an acquired condition. His claims for these conditions are granted based on presumptive exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a procedural issue with the SOC and for further development regarding the propriety of reducing his benefits payment rate from 100 percent to 70 percent, as well as the creation of an overpayment in his account.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues related to whether a calculated debt of $43,766.80 was properly created and the appellant's entitlement to a waiver of recovery of that debt.

The Board finds that the Veteran's acromegaly is not related to his military service, including herbicide exposure. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin disorder, claimed as jungle rot, is etiologically related to his active duty service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a videoconference hearing before the Board of Veterans' Appeals.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a herniated nucleus pulposus at L5-S1 warrant an initial disability rating of 20 percent, effective from the date of the decision. Additionally, he is also entitled to separate 10 percent ratings for associated radiculopathy affecting his right lower extremity as of March 9, 2011 and for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood since May 31, 2007.

The Board has denied the appellant's claim for one-time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund due to a certification by the service department that she did not have the requisite military service.

The Veteran's neck disorder (other than service-connected residuals of C3 chip fracture) is not shown to be causally or etiologically related to any disease, injury, or incident of service.

The Veteran's right hip disability was rated at 10 percent before June 24, 2008 and as 30 percent thereafter. The left hip disability was rated at 10 percent prior to February 10, 2011 and as 30 percent thereafter.,The Veteran underwent right and left total hip replacements in 2008 and 2011 respectively.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is related to his military service, as there was a high probability of exposure to fumes and oils during flight duty. The evidence in equipoise, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and requesting a supplemental opinion from the examiner who conducted the October 2012 examination.

The Veteran's application for an annual clothing allowance was denied as he did not file timely applications for the years 2003, 2004, and 2005.

The Veteran's disability compensation benefits were apportioned in the amount of $150 per month to his minor child, A.M.F., due to her financial hardship.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination to determine if the appellant requires regular aid and attendance or is housebound. The claim will be reconsidered based on this new evidence.

The Veteran's right great toe disability was rated at 10 percent from August 1, 2004 to July 18, 2010. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating as his symptoms were not severe enough to warrant a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied the appellant's request for Certificate of Eligibility (COE) for VA Home Loan Benefits because his service did not meet the criteria for basic eligibility under Chapter 37 of Title 38 of the United States Code.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 60 percent for aortic valvular stenosis from September 11, 2012. The effective date remains April 30, 2004.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine if a higher rating for celiac sprue and service connection for arthralgia are warranted.

The Veteran's left ankle disability is currently rated at 20 percent, the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code 5271 for marked limitation of motion. The claim for a TDIU remains pending.