Other conditions Board decisions

The Board finds that the appellant's prolonged absence without leave (AWOL) period of 539 days was due to compelling circumstances, and thus his discharge under other than honorable conditions does not constitute a statutory bar to VA benefits.

The Board has determined that the reduction of your varicose veins rating from 40 to 20 percent, effective December 30, 2009, was proper. You are not entitled to a higher evaluation for this condition.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have recognized active military service for the purpose of obtaining the one-time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund, and therefore legal entitlement to this benefit is denied.

The Veteran's skin disorder, dermatophytosis, is found to be related to his military service and a grant of service connection is granted.

The Veteran's cause of death, malignant glioblastoma multiforme, was not service-connected as the disease did not manifest within one year after service and there is no evidence linking it to his military service or exposure to herbicides.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to determine if the Veteran's multiple myeloma and light chain nephropathy are related to his exposure to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune. The case will be remanded for this purpose.

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 U.S. service department that the appellant did not have the requisite military service to establish eligibility.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a VA examination and medical opinion regarding his claimed immune deficiency disorder, which he contends is related to exposure to ionizing radiation during service. The case will be returned for further consideration.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death while the appeal was pending.

The Board denied the Veteran's service connection claim for a respiratory disorder, finding no relationship between his current condition and military service. The increased rating claim for hemorrhoids was also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death, congestive heart failure due to atrial fibrillation, was not caused or contributed by his service-connected residuals of malaria.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ventricular ectopy, to include as secondary to PTSD or type II diabetes mellitus, is being remanded due to inadequate examination and missing private records.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of shell fragment wounds to the right buttock and right leg have been rated at their maximum levels, with no additional disability found. The claims for increased ratings are therefore denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left hip disorder was denied as the medical evidence did not indicate any current residuals of a left hip disorder from his military service.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of October 2, 1965 for the grant of service connection for left ear defective hearing. This decision resolves a pending claim that was initiated in May 1966 and remained pending until November 2007 when it was finally granted by the Board.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep disorder is etiologically related to his active service and grants entitlement to service connection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a gum disorder manifested by bleeding gums is denied as the law precludes such a finding.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable rating prior to March 28, 2012 was granted. Since then, his disability has been rated at 10 percent since that date. The Board found no evidence of additional impairment warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim of a waiver of recovery of overpayment of VA compensation benefits is being remanded for further development, including issuance of an SOC and scheduling of a personal hearing.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Raynaud's Syndrome is granted. The Board also finds that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for residuals of cold injury to his hands are granted, with a rating in excess of 20 percent prior to March 27, 2012 and a rating in excess of 30 percent as of March 27, 2012.