Other conditions decisions — 2010

The Board finds that the Veteran's pursuit of training as a general contractor was reasonably feasible given his service-connected disabilities, and thus discontinuance of vocational rehabilitation services was improper.

The Veteran's junctional bradycardia with hypotension is related to his active duty military service, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left cheek skin disability. The Veteran presented with symptoms of hyperpigmentation, itching, and swelling on his left cheek which was diagnosed as Lichen simplex chronicus (LSC).

The Board has remanded the claim for a respiratory disorder to the RO via the AMC in Washington, DC, due to insufficient evidence regarding the Appellant's service connection and exposure during his National Guard deployment.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and need for further medical opinion regarding aggravation of a 2002 low back injury by subsequent military service in 2003 and/or 2005.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing the case.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including issuing a complete Statement of the Case (SOC) and ensuring any necessary development is completed.

The Veteran's claim for additional VA disability compensation for his dependent spouse was denied as the marriage certificate was submitted more than one year after the date of the marriage, and no effective date could be established due to the death of the dependent.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for postpolycythemic myelofibrosis (previously polycythemia vera). The Veteran's symptoms during her first period of active duty, including elevated platelet counts, are consistent with a diagnosis of polycythemia vera which later evolved into postpolycythemic myelofibrosis. As such, the claim is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to issues of bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and a prostate condition. The current rating for the prostate condition remains noncompensable.

The Board finds that the appellant is not entitled to accrued benefits as he is not the Veteran's surviving son.

The Board has denied the appellant's claim for retroactive Department of Veterans Affairs Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits under Chapter 35 prior to January 30, 2007 due to lack of entitlement under the law.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Board dismissed the appeal as the appellant withdrew it before a decision was made.

The Board has determined that recovery of the overpayment would not be against equity and good conscience, thus denying the Veteran's claim for waiver of recovery.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the issues of service connection for a respiratory disorder and prostate disorder during his March 2010 hearing.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of medical services provided at St. Mary's Medical Center on November 9, 2008 is granted under the Veterans Millennium Health Care and Benefits Act (Millennium Bill Act). The emergency treatment was deemed necessary due to a condition that caused significant bleeding from the lungs.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a bilateral leg disability, finding that there is no competent medical evidence linking his Buerger's disease to service or in-service tobacco use.

The Veteran's quadriparesis or partial quadriplegia is not considered to be a result of VA surgery, and the Board finds that it was due to disease progression and aging rather than the 2002 shoulder surgery.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining a clarifying medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of any thoracic spine disorder. The Veteran's appeal is also remanded to determine if he is entitled to TDIU.