Other conditions Board decisions

The Veteran's unreimbursed medical expenses for the year 2005 were $741.00, which is less than 5% of his maximum annual pension rate ($665.00). The Board granted exclusion of $76.00 from countable income due to these expenses.

The Veteran's request for educational assistance benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty (MGIB-AD) is being remanded due to missing documents and a potential issue with participation in the program.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and he did not meet the criteria for burial or plot allowance under VA regulations. However, his daughter filed a timely claim for a plot or interment allowance after his death, which is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran's facial neuralgia, to include trigeminal neuralgia, was not incurred in or aggravated by service and denied his claim.

The appellant's claims for nonservice-connected pension and a one-time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund were denied as she does not meet the requirements of basic eligibility for these VA benefits due to lack of qualifying service.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have qualifying service for the one-time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund, and thus is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to the appellant requesting a video conference hearing, and this matter is not ready for appellate review.

The Board 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 Veteran's May 1999 eye surgery did not result in any additional bilateral vision loss, and the Board found that VA had exercised reasonable care during the procedure.

The Board found that the Veteran's peripheral vascular disease of both lower extremities is related to service, and granted service connection for this condition. The Board also found that coronary artery disease was not incurred in or aggravated by service, but may be presumed due to a service-connected disability (presumably his shrapnel wounds). Degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine was not shown to be directly related to service.

The Veteran's spouse was notified of her eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits on May 7, 1997. The appellant's application for DEA benefits was received in April 2008, which is after the 10-year delimiting period and no extension was granted due to lack of medical evidence showing she was prevented from initiating or completing the program.

The Veteran's cancer of the tongue, throat, and neck was not shown to have had onset during service or be related to exposure to ionizing radiation. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a supplemental statement from Dr. Cantagallo regarding whether the veteran's service-connected rheumatic fever caused or aggravated his non-service-connected multiple joint arthritis and myalgia.

The Board found that the Veteran's current Eustachian tube dysfunction is attributable to service, and granted service connection for residuals of a left ear injury.

The Veteran's migraine headaches have been rated at 50% since June 17, 2010. The thoracic strain remains rated at 20%. A derivative claim for TDIU is also granted.

The Veteran's hyperlipidemia has not resulted in any disability or symptoms that would warrant a compensable rating. His erectile dysfunction, while potentially related to his hyperlipidemia, does not meet the criteria for a higher evaluation.

The Board found that the Veteran's cause of death, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, was not related to his active military service, including exposure to ionizing radiation. Service connection for this condition is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected endometriosis, status post hysterectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy is rated at 50 percent disabling. The Board found that the schedular rating criteria reasonably describe her disability level and symptomatology resulting from this condition.

The Veteran's service-connected varicose veins of the right and left lower extremities have been rated at 40 percent each, resulting in a combined rating of 80 percent. The Board finds that these ratings are appropriate as there is no evidence of persistent ulceration or other severe symptoms warranting higher ratings.

The Veteran's death was caused by acute and chronic alcoholism, not service-connected conditions.,Accrued benefits for PTSD were denied as the claim was filed more than one year after the Veteran's death.