Other conditions decisions — 2008

The veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of dental trauma, for the purpose of VA outpatient dental treatment is denied as there was no in-service trauma to any tooth.

The Board has decided that the VA Regional Office needs to obtain additional medical records and conduct further development before deciding whether the veteran's respiratory disorder and loss of smell are service-connected.

The Board dismissed the appeal because no timely Notice of Disagreement was filed regarding the termination of VA benefits due to a character of service discharge.

The Board found that the veteran's death was not caused by, or substantially or materially contributed to by, an injury or disease incurred in or aggravated by active military service, including on a presumptive basis for former POWs. The heart attack and aleukemic leukemia were determined to be due to other causes.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding treatment records related to the veteran's loss of vision during service and post-service care. The veteran is seeking service connection for his current condition.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for improved death pension benefits, finding she was not entitled to more than $16.66 per month due to her income and unreimbursed medical expenses.

The veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a left foot stress fracture is being remanded due to incomplete records and the need for further medical examination.

The Board finds that remand is required to obtain records from all of the veteran's periods of service, including his active duty and Reserve status. The case will be returned for further action.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for VA death benefits due to a lack of verified active military service with the United States Armed Forces.

The veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected degenerative joint disease of the right hip is being remanded due to the need for additional medical evidence and a new VA examination.

The veteran's medical expenses at the Claxton Hepburn Medical Center for treatment on November 1, 2006, November 5, 2006, and November 7, 2006 are denied as he did not meet the criteria for reimbursement under VA regulations.

The Board found that the veteran did not sustain an injury to her right foot during service, and any current disability is not otherwise shown to be etiologically related to a period of such service. Therefore, the claim for service connection was denied.

The veteran's appeal for payment or reimbursement of private medical services received at Dixie Medical Center in St. George, Utah was denied because he had other health coverage (Medicare) that provided partial payment for the treatment.

The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a compensable disability for service connection purposes, as his vision impairment is due to refractive error and not disease or injury incurred in service. Therefore, the claim of service connection for bilateral defective vision is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to the appellant's failure to appear at a scheduled hearing and his request for postponement. The case will be processed as though the request for a new hearing date was granted.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected bladder neck dyssynergy does not meet the criteria for a higher rating, and therefore denied his claim for an increased rating.

The veteran's right thigh gunshot wound residuals have been objectively shown to be manifested by moderately severe muscle injuries involving the vastus lateralis and adductor longus muscles, a minimally depressed entrance wound with associated numbness and underlying muscle pain, and a scar. The Board has granted an increased evaluation for his right thigh gunshot wound residuals.

The veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that an examination is necessary to determine the nature and etiology of the veteran's neck disorder, which may be related to service. The case will be remanded for these actions.

The Board has denied the veteran's claims for service connection for bursitis of the right hip and left hip, finding that there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.