Other conditions decisions — 2014

The Veteran's thoracic spine disability was granted service connection and rated at 10 percent prior to August 23, 2011. Since then, the rating has been increased to 40 percent.

The case is being remanded for further examination and review of the claims folder to ensure that the data provided by the VA examiner in July 2013 is responsive to the rating criteria as found in 38 C.F.R. � 4.71a, Diagnostic Code 5278.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for one-time payment from the FVEC Fund due to a lack of qualifying service in the United States Armed Forces.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of soft tissue sarcoma, lung tumors, pancreatic cancer (as due to herbicide exposure and service-connected disability), or lymph node tumors. Therefore, his claims for these conditions are denied.

The Veteran's oral cavity cancer is found to be related to her active service, with resolution of reasonable doubt in her favor.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence to support service connection for the Veteran's claimed conditions, including chest pain, bilateral elbow disabilities, and residuals of a dislocated middle finger of the left hand.

The Veteran seeks service connection for adenoid cystic carcinoma of the left parotid gland, claiming it is related to in-service herbicide exposure. The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate development and need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to determine the etiology of any current osteomyelitis disorder or residuals thereof and whether it is related to service-connected type II diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran requested to withdraw their appeal, and as a result, the Board has dismissed the case.

The Veteran's service-connected left foot arthritis is manifested by pain and the required use of orthotic shoe inserts. The Board finds that a 10 percent disability rating is warranted for the entire claim period.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for actinic keratosis is being remanded due to the inadequacy of a previous VA examination. The Veteran needs a new examination to determine the extent of his disability.

The Board has determined that the appellant's spouse had qualifying service as a member of the United States Armed Forces of the Far East (USAFFE) in the Philippine Commonwealth Army, including the recognized guerillas and Philippine Scouts during World War II. The Veteran's service is certified by the NPRC as Regular Philippine Scouts from July 1945 to May 16, 1947, which qualifies for pension benefits.

The Board denied service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding no evidence that any in-service condition caused or contributed to his death.

The Veteran's service is not considered qualifying wartime service, thus the claim for nonservice-connected death pension benefits is denied.

The appellant withdrew his appeal for payment of agent fees from past-due benefits resulting from the April 2011 rating decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for periodontitis and residual tooth extraction, claimed as secondary to or aggravating his service-connected diabetes mellitus, is being remanded for further development by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to obtain outstanding medical records and for a VA examination to assess the severity of his low back disability, including any associated radiculopathy. The claim will be readjudicated based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's pension and special monthly pension benefits were granted, but the appellant is seeking accrued benefits derived from additional unreimbursed medical expenses. The Board finds that no such accrued benefits are warranted as there was no submission of new evidence or information to support the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's neurological disability, which includes upper motor neuron ALS and PLS, is service-connected based on direct evidence of a connection to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death, which was listed as 'undetermined' on his death certificate, is due to a combination of service-connected arteriosclerotic heart disease and exposure to Agent Orange. As arteriosclerotic heart disease is considered presumptively related to Agent Orange exposure, the Board grants service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.