Other conditions decisions — 2008

The Board has granted the veteran's claim for reimbursement of medical expenses incurred at Good Samaritan Hospital and Diagnostic Imaging from June 23, 2005 to June 25, 2005. The issue of whether the veteran's claim for reimbursement for travel by ambulance is timely filed remains unresolved.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining the veteran's service personnel records and VA medical center records. The claims will be adjudicated again after this information has been gathered.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for myopia and ADHD, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic disability during or since service.

The veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred on December 26, 2004 at Forrest General Hospital was denied because the chest pain did not meet the criteria for emergency treatment.

The veteran did not have Alzheimer's dementia that was causally or etiologically related to service or a service-connected disability. The cause of the veteran's death, listed as acute myocardial infarction, developed many years after service and was not caused by any disease or injury incurred in active service.

The Board has determined that an effective date earlier than January 9, 2006 for the grant of dependency and indemnity compensation is not warranted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's skin disease of the feet pre-existed service and was not aggravated during service, thus denying his claim for service connection.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic eye disorder in service or a current eye disorder causally related to service, and thus denied the veteran's claim for service connection.

The Board denied the veteran's request for waiver of recovery of overpayment of VA compensation benefits, finding that the veteran contributed to the creation of the debt and failed to cooperate by not providing requested information or documentation.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for umbilical hernia and service connection for residuals of a back injury. The preponderance of evidence is against finding that either condition was incurred in or aggravated by active military service.

The veteran's claim for TDIU is remanded due to the need for further development, including a VA examination and adjudication of an intertwined service connection claim.

The VA has denied an increased evaluation for the service-connected seasonal allergies, finding that the veteran's condition does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 6522.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a dental disorder and an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for bilateral pes planus. The dental issue was found to be not related to military service or diabetes mellitus, while the pes planus claim did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The veteran's shrapnel wounds to both buttocks are rated as slight, and the RO has not provided a higher rating for these conditions.,Separate 10 percent ratings have been assigned for two scars resulting from the shrapnel injury.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and a VA examination. The issues include service connection for secondary hypertensive vascular disease and an increased rating for his cardiovascular disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right hand disability, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a rating higher than 10 percent.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a skin disorder and residuals of pneumonia, finding that there is no evidence to support these claims.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of his back disability and pitting edema.

The Board found no competent medical evidence linking the veteran's current respiratory disorder to service or Agent Orange exposure, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The veteran's claim for service connection for a dental disorder involving teeth numbers 8 and 10 is being remanded to the RO for additional development of his claims file, including obtaining any pre-1978 dental records and VA treatment records from 1950 in Birmingham, Alabama.