Other conditions Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on loss of use of the right hand is being remanded due to inadequate medical opinion and incomplete treatment records.

The Veteran's widow died in August 2006 and was awarded nonservice-connected death pension benefits. The appellant, the widow's niece, filed a claim for accrued benefits to cover funeral and burial expenses of her aunt. After returning two uncashed VA checks from the widow, the appellant received $601.00 in accrued benefits. The Board found that only $601.00 was available to reimburse the appellant for her expenditures on behalf of the Veteran's widow.

The Board has granted service connection for residuals of a fracture to the left fifth toe effective from August 31, 1994. The Veteran's claim was denied previously due to lack of STRs showing a left toe injury, but later received STRs dated in August 1950 that confirmed his claim.

The appellant's service in the Philippine Commonwealth Army, including recognized guerrillas, was not verified by the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC), leading to a denial of his claim for one-time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund.

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

The Board has determined that the appellant did not have service as a member of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, including recognized guerrillas, in the service of the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II and therefore is not eligible for benefits under the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left ear otitis externa is denied, while her right ear otitis externa claim is granted. The Board found that the evidence supports a grant of service connection for right ear otitis externa.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to the RO for additional development, including obtaining medical records and arranging for a VA examination. The claim will be re-adjudicated after these actions.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred on May 3, 2006 were denied as the care was deemed non-emergent and VA facilities were feasibly available.

The Board has restored a separate, protected 10% rating for bilateral conjunctivitis but denied an increased rating for the Veteran's service-connected blepharoconjunctivitis with chronic lid changes.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of left mandible fracture, status post open reduction/internal fixation with resultant TMJ dysfunction are currently evaluated at a 10 percent disability rating. The Board found that the current evaluation is not adequate to reflect his current level of disability.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a VA examination and consideration of new evidence. The Veteran's claim for service connection for malaria is now pending before the RO.

The Veteran's bilateral shin splints and compartment syndrome have been rated at 10 percent since the appeal period began, with no higher rating granted due to the current level of disability.

The Veteran's service-connected left and right hand strain disabilities have been found to not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation based on current symptomatology.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to issues with the examination report and in order to obtain additional information from the Veteran.

The Veteran's complete C7 quadriplegia is not etiologically related to a period of active military service, and the Board finds that service connection for this disability is denied.

The Veteran's chronic right hip disorder and left knee disorder are not service-connected. The Board found that the right hip disorder is not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability, while the left knee disorder was found to be etiologically related to his service-connected right knee disability.

The appellant's claim for a one-time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund is denied as he does not have qualifying service that meets the requirements of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for payment from the 'Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund' due to a lack of qualifying service in the United States Armed Forces, as determined by the National Personnel Records Center.

The Veteran seeks compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for complications resulting from a femoral artery bypass graft surgery performed on July 14, 2005. The surgery was allegedly negligent and resulted in the need for right foot amputation and partial scrotectomy.