Other conditions decisions — 2010

The Board has determined that the appellant can be recognized as the surviving spouse of the Veteran for purposes of VA death benefits, given the mutual consent to separation and lack of fault on her part.

The Board found that the appellant did not meet the criteria to be considered as the surviving spouse of the Veteran for purposes of VA benefits due to their separation lasting over 36 years and lack of mutual consent.

The Board denied the claim of service connection for residuals of a gunshot wound to the right leg as it was not incurred during active duty or training.

The Board denied service connection for Bell's palsy and headaches, but granted service connection for a skin condition. The Veteran is not entitled to service connection for Bell's palsy as there is no evidence of in-service occurrence or a nexus between the disability and his military service. For the skin condition, the Board found that the Veteran has current skin conditions and that it is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected atypical psychosis treatment.

The Veteran does not have current decreased sensation in the upper extremities that has been shown to have manifested in service or is etiologically related to active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran could not be transferred to a VA facility on April 26, 2004 due to his unstable condition and advised him not to be transferred prior to surgery. The VAMC is instructed to obtain all hospitalization records from Grande Ronde Hospital and Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center for review by an appropriate physician.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for piriformis and sacroiliac hip dysfunction, claimed as a hip condition, is denied. The Board found no current diagnosis of either condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's current heart disability, diagnosed as cardiomyopathy, did not have its onset in service or is otherwise related to his active military service.

The Board denied the appellant's claim to reinstate her nonservice-connected death pension benefits, finding that her income exceeded the maximum allowable limit for such benefits.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting evidence regarding the cause of the Veteran's death and additional development is needed.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional examinations and opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed disabilities, including chest pain and right upper/lower extremity neuropathy.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete medical records and the need for further development.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private hospital is being remanded due to the need for additional information and development.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for varicose veins of the lower extremities and a TDIU are being remanded due to the need to obtain private medical records from Dr. R.W.V.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at University Community Hospital, Inc., from July 27, 2006, to August 4, 2006, are approved as the evidence shows that he was not accepted for transfer to a VA facility until August 4, 2006.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including seminal fasciculitis and prostatitis, render him unemployable due to their severity.

The Veteran's celiac disease and bone disorder (osteopenia/osteoporosis) are found to be related to his service, with the latter being a known complication of the former.

The Board found that the Veteran's alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency was not incurred in or aggravated during his period of active duty service and denied his claim.

The Board has ordered the Veteran's claim remanded for further development, including obtaining clinical records from his service and a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any foot condition(s).

The Board denied the appellant's claims of entitlement to service connection for a sleep disorder, bilateral tendonitis of the elbows and a psychiatric disorder. The decision is based on the lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.