Other conditions Board decisions

The Veteran died prior to the enactment of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which established the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund. As a result, no claim was filed within the prescribed time limits, and therefore, the appellant is not entitled to the one-time payment from the fund.

The Veteran's bilateral knee conditions have been rated based on the severity of his arthritis and limitation of motion. The current ratings are denied as they do not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable diagnostic codes.

The Veteran's colon cancer was not found to be related to his military service, including exposure to Agent Orange. The claim for service connection was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing Volume I of the Veteran's claims file, which contains service treatment records and other pertinent documents. The issues on appeal are related to sleep disturbance (claimed as insomnia) and numbness in the arms and legs.

The Veteran's right foot bunion and hallux valgus deformity have been rated at 10% since January 1999, as the disability is manifested by painful motion of the great toes.

The Veteran's claim for a disability evaluation greater than 10 percent for his service-connected residuals of a shell fragment wound of the abdomen was denied. The evidence did not support an increase in disability beyond the abdominal scar and the umbilical hernia.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical evidence regarding the relationship between the Veteran's myelodysplastic syndrome and his service exposure to ionizing radiation. The Veteran is requested to provide additional medical records, including those from Dr. Clayton and Duke University, and a VA examination will be conducted.

The Board determined that esophageal cancer was not service-connected and did not contribute substantially or materially to the Veteran's death. The cause of death, esophageal cancer, is presumed to be due to natural causes rather than any causal relationship with his military service.

The Veteran's appeal involves two main issues: seeking an earlier effective date for service connection and a higher initial evaluation for causalgia of the right hand. The case is being remanded to obtain updated treatment records, conduct a new VA examination, and address whether there was clear and unmistakable error in prior rating decisions.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to address the Veteran's claim for service connection for arthritis of the back and legs with radiating pain, including as due to his service-connected penetrating chest and/or abdomen wound. The case is being remanded for additional examination and opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability and hepatitis C, finding no new and material evidence to reopen the left knee claim. The decision on hepatitis C is remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling upper GI and VA examinations to assess his acid peptic disease.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to service connection for endometriosis with edema, interstitial cystitis, and adjustment disorder/depressed mood. The conditions are found to have first manifested during active duty service.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private hospital from March 20, 2007 to March 28, 2007.

The Veteran is seeking retroactive induction into a vocational rehabilitation service program under Chapter 31, Title 38, United States Code. The case must be returned to the VR&E/RO/AMC for further development due to recent changes in regulations and unclear decision from Central Office.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development due to the Veteran's request for a Travel Board hearing.

The Veteran's discharge was due to pregnancy, which interfered with her performance of duty and did not result from her own willful misconduct. The Board found that this met the exception set forth in 38 CFR § 21.7042(a)(5)(vi) for eligibility under Chapter 30.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the right forearm and right hand.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for her service-connected herniated nucleus pulposus, L4-L5 with hyperplastic ligamentum flavum and encroachment of dural sac was denied as the medical evidence did not show symptoms warranting a higher rating.