Other conditions decisions — 2008

The Board has determined that additional evidence concerning the veteran's claimed active service, including his alleged status as a former POW while in the U.S. Armed Forces in the Far East during World War II, needs to be submitted and considered by the service department.

The Board has determined that there is insufficient evidence to establish service connection for the veteran's skin condition and has ordered additional development of his medical records.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the veteran's death, and thus no jurisdiction remains to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for service connection of ALS for purposes of accrued benefits and for the cause of the veteran's death. The evidence did not establish a link between the veteran's military service, including possible exposure to Smallpox vaccinations or aluminum, and his development of ALS.

The Board has determined that the appellant is not entitled to an earlier effective date for special monthly pension based on the need for aid and attendance, as the evidence does not show she was in need of regular aid and attendance prior to November 16, 2005.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if the veteran's skin condition is related to his military service.

The veteran seeks service connection for a right total hip arthroplasty, which he attributes to his military service. The Board has determined that additional development is necessary and the case is being remanded for further action.

The veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical care expenses incurred at York Medical Clinic and York General Hospital on August 9, 2006 was denied as prior authorization was not obtained from a VA employee with appropriate authority.

The veteran is seeking VA education benefits under Chapter 30, but the appeal has been remanded due to incomplete service records and lack of documentation regarding his participation in the 'Palace Chase' program. The claim will be reconsidered based on eligibility criteria for educational assistance.

The Board of Veterans' Appeals (Board) has determined that the veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement for private medical services received from Lewis County General Hospital on August 23, 2006 is denied due to lack of coverage under his health plan.

The veteran's application for educational assistance was denied as his training program did not meet the requirements of VA regulations.

The veteran's emergency medical treatment at Morristown Hamblen Hospital on December 14, 2005 was approved as it met the criteria for reimbursement under VA regulations.

The Board found no new evidence to support the veteran's claims for service connection and denied all issues.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased evaluations for his service-connected degenerative joint disease and chondromalacia of both knees, finding that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a disability evaluation in excess of 20 percent.

The veteran's claim for nonservice connected disability pension was received on September 8, 2003. The Board found that the veteran did not have a physical or mental condition preventing him from filing his claim prior to this date due to willful misconduct. Therefore, the effective date remains as of September 8, 2003.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to its inextricably intertwined with other pending claims.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for an earlier effective date for DIC and found no clear and unmistakable error in the prior rating decision. The effective date remains August 27, 1999.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for otitis media of the right ear, which was previously denied in July 1946. The veteran's statements regarding his symptoms are considered cumulative and do not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for an aortic aneurysm as secondary to his service-connected kidney disease, finding no competent medical evidence of any relationship between the two.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for the cause of his death and for chronic lymphocytic leukemia as secondary to exposure to Agent Orange, for purposes of accrued benefits. The appeal is remanded for further development.