Other conditions Board decisions

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease and arthritis are found to be aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, warranting service connection on a secondary basis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the right base of the tongue and tonsil is service-connected as secondary to his in-service exposure to herbicides, specifically Agent Orange.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's gouty arthritis of the feet did not start during service and is not related to his service-connected impetigo. The evidence does not support a finding that the current condition was caused or aggravated by the service-connected condition.

The Veteran's recurrent right inguinal hernia, post-operative and readily reducible, is rated at a 10 percent disability rating effective from February 22, 2007.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral varicose veins were not incurred in or aggravated by his active service and are not related to any incident of service, including exposure to burn pits, Agent Orange, Camp Lejeune, radiation, Gulf War Syndrome, or other environmental factors. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's varicose veins resulted from valve incompetence in the veins, rather than being a result of his military service.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of a cerebrovascular accident, including whether his PTSD aggravates his stroke and/or stroke residuals. The case will be readjudicated following this.

The Veteran does not have a diagnosed hip disability and the Board finds that service connection is denied.

The Veteran's right knee disability, including chondromalacia of the patella and residuals from multiple surgeries, is rated at 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the appellant's income exceeds the maximum allowable rate for a surviving spouse with one child, and thus he is not eligible for death pension benefits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for T-wave and PVC abnormality, chronic abdominal pain, initial compensable ratings for allergic rhinitis, cervicitis, and herpes simplex virus type II. The Veteran was not diagnosed with these conditions during her examination.

The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the left hip with femoroacetabular impingement has been evaluated as a direct service connection condition, resulting in an initial rating of 10 percent.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the Veteran's claims for service connection for a foot disorder, headaches and dizziness, an acquired psychiatric disorder (other than PTSD), PTSD, colon cancer, or lower back pain.

The Board has restored the initial 20 percent rating for TMJ dysfunction, effective October 2, 2008, after finding that the RO failed to consider and apply the provisions of 38 C.F.R. § 3.344 in reducing the rating.

The Veteran's multiple myeloma is presumed due to exposure to Agent Orange. However, the dates of his service in Vietnam and pertinent unit histories are unclear, requiring further investigation.

The Veteran's service was not sufficient to meet the 90-day requirement for basic eligibility for VA death pension benefits.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine the nature and etiology of any current eye disorder, including whether it is related to service or if it was caused by a superimposed disease or injury during service. The Veteran's claim will be remanded for this purpose.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have recognized active military service for the purpose of obtaining one-time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund.

The service department certified that the appellant had no service as a member of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, including recognized guerrillas, in the service of the United States Armed Forces. Therefore, he is not eligible for one-time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have qualifying service to be eligible for the one-time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund.