Other conditions decisions — 2008

The VA denied the veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected left eye traumatic vitreous hemorrhage, visual acuity 20/20. The evidence did not show impairment of central visual acuity or field loss, rest requirements, or episodic incapacity.

The Board denied the appellant's petition to reopen her cause-of-death claim, finding no new and material evidence to support it. The claim was not reopened as there was insufficient evidence to establish a link between the veteran's death and his military service.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for chronic suppurative otitis media and a sinus disorder, finding that new and material evidence had not been submitted to reopen these previously denied claims.

The veteran's appeal is granted, and he is entitled to payment or reimbursement for unauthorized medical expenses of $2756 resulting from services provided at Sutter Tracy Community Hospital on June 1, 2006.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for eligibility to receive educational assistance benefits under Chapter 30, Title 38 due to not meeting the eligibility requirements.

The Board found that the veteran's eye conditions, including amblyopia, myopic astigmatism, high myopia in the right eye, cataracts, and idiopathic vitreous hemorrhage in the left eye, were not incurred or aggravated by service. The conditions are considered to be direct service connection cases.

The Board has remanded the veteran's claims for service connection and increased rating due to the need for further development, including additional medical examinations.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a claim for service connection for loss of bowel control prior to April 5, 2001. As such, the effective date for the grant of service connection for this condition cannot be earlier than April 5, 2001.

The Board denied increased ratings for spondylolisthesis, L4-S1 and left shoulder tendonitis, but granted a compensable rating for scalp folliculitis.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including review by a specialist in neurologic disorders and issuance of a supplemental statement of the case addressing disability ratings and effective dates.

The Board has remanded the case for further action due to insufficient medical examination and VCAA notification issues.

The Board has determined that the veteran's blurred vision is not related to his military service and has been attributed to developmental defects such as amblyopia and refractive error.

The Board has determined that the inheritance proceeds are countable income for purposes of improved pension benefits, and thus denied the appeal.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the veteran's service-connected left leg injury and schizoaffective disorder, finding that these awards were final due to lack of timely appeal within one year.,Service connection was also denied for a right ankle disability as it is not related to active service or a service-connected condition.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected pulmonary fibrosis due to asbestos exposure, finding that the pre-bronchodilator Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) result was 85 percent of predicted, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the claim.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining additional medical records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the veteran's basal cell carcinoma, specifically whether it is related to sun exposure during service.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for chalazia of both eyes is being remanded due to the need for a new VA examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case for additional development, including obtaining updated information on medical expenses and financial status from the appellant.