Other conditions decisions — 2009

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for basic eligibility for nonservice-connected VA pension benefits due to lack of qualifying military service.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral hip disorder, but has remanded it for further development and consideration.

The Veteran's only active service was in the recognized guerillas from January 1, 1943 to May 24, 1946. The appellant is not eligible for non-service-connected death pension benefits as she does not have qualifying active service.

The Veteran is over 65 years old and has a combined disability rating of 70%, meeting the requirements for special monthly pension.

The Board has ordered additional development due to the lack of necessary documents, including verification of military service and notice of the Veteran's permanent total disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical evidence and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bulging discs at L4-L5 and L5-S1 are causally related to service, granting his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's adenocarcinoma of the prostate was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and may not be presumed to have been incurred in or aggravated by service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and the Vocational Rehabilitation file. The issue of entitlement to TDIU will also be adjudicated.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses paid on July 24, 2006 is being remanded due to the need for additional records and a reconsideration based on all available evidence.

The Board found that the August 1998 rating decision denying service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death was not clearly and unmistakably erroneous. The effective date for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is determined based on when entitlement arose, which in this case would be the date of receipt of the claim or the date entitlement arose, whichever is later.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's hearing loss in the left ear and the current severity of his right ear hearing loss. The Veteran will need to provide medical records, undergo a VA audiological examination, and have their claims readjudicated.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for hematuria is being remanded due to the need for clarification of his Reserve service history and a VA examination.

The Veteran's dental condition is not service-connected and does not meet the legal requirements for VA outpatient treatment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a brain disorder is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his bilateral hand disability was denied by the RO, and the matter is being remanded to further consider the evidence.

The Veteran's right eye corneal edema is manifested by complaints of irritation, discomfort, and visual field loss. The Board finds that the criteria are met for an initial 20 percent disability rating for right eye corneal edema.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for residuals of a stab wound, right hemi-thorax is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of new evidence.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have been evaluated as 10 percent disabling since July 1948. The Board has determined that the criteria for evaluations in excess of 10 percent are not met.

The Veteran's unauthorized private appendectomy was not covered for reimbursement as he did not meet the criteria under VA regulations, including being in a medical emergency and having no feasible alternative to non-VA care.