Other conditions decisions — 2009

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a head injury is being remanded due to the need for an examination to determine if his current conditions are related to the in-service accident.

The Board is remanding the case to obtain VA dental records and a VA physician's opinion regarding whether dental treatment can be considered as adjunct to the Veteran's service-connected disability. The claim will then be readjudicated.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information and need for a VA medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's cause of death, brain neoplasm, was incurred in service or related to his service.

The Veteran's service-connected narcolepsy with cataplexy renders him in need of regular aid and attendance, but a complete bathroom upgrade is not necessary to provide access to essential facilities. The claim for a home improvement and structural alterations grant was denied.

The Veteran's appeal for continued vocational rehabilitation program services under Chapter 31, Title 38, United States Code has been withdrawn.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining service treatment records and a VA examination to assess the nature and etiology of his claimed dystonia and coccidioidomycosis.

The Veteran's claims for service connection and secondary service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining his service personnel records and a VA examination.

The Board has scheduled a hearing for the appellant but failed to notify her of the hearing. The case is being remanded to reschedule the hearing and provide proper notification.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the Montgomery, Alabama Regional Office for further development of his claim including obtaining VA and private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for recognition as the Veteran's surviving spouse, finding that she did not meet the basic criteria due to her divorce from the Veteran prior to his death.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for apportionment of the Veteran's compensation benefits on her behalf, finding that the Veteran reasonably discharges his responsibility for support and that a special apportionment would cause undue hardship to him.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including a VA examination and readjudication.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a cold injury to the tissues of his mouth, jaw, and teeth was denied as there is no evidence showing such an injury occurred during or within one year after service.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for recognition as the surviving spouse of the Veteran for purposes of entitlement to Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits due to lack of legal eligibility under VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including requesting verification of the appellant's claimed service from the service department and providing all relevant evidence to them.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses for chest and back pain on May 23, 2008 are approved as the condition was of such a nature that delay in seeking immediate medical attention would have been hazardous to life or health.

The Veteran's cause of death, metastatic adenocarcinoma of the lung, is not service-connected as there is no evidence associating it with his active service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any service-connected disability, and the claims for bilateral hearing loss and residuals of head trauma were pending at the time of his death but would have been denied due to his passing.

The Veteran's appeal was denied as his service-connected carcinoma, left upper lobe, and associated scar did not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses for cellulitis were denied as the treatment was not rendered in a medical emergency and no VA facility was feasibly available.