Other conditions decisions — 2011

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and initial compensable ratings for his service-connected intervertebral disc syndrome, sensory deficits of the left lower extremity, and sensory deficits of the right lower extremity are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's skin disorders of the nose, chest, and upper back are found to be due to his military service. The claim for tinnitus is granted.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's unauthorized private medical expenses incurred at St. John's Regional Medical Center from February 18, 2009 to February 23, 2009 were not reimbursable due to the presence of pre-existing coverage under a private health insurance plan.

The Veteran's Raynaud's syndrome with thoracic outlet syndrome due to protein-S deficiency was initially granted and assigned a 10 percent disability evaluation effective from July 29, 2003.,Effective August 4, 2009, the Veteran's disability rating for his Raynaud's syndrome with thoracic outlet syndrome due to protein-S deficiency was increased to 40 percent.

The Veteran's spontaneous pneumothorax of the left lung is currently asymptomatic and does not warrant a compensable rating under VA disability evaluation criteria.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant, and no jurisdiction remains for further action.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current stomach disorder and therefore service connection for this condition is denied. The issue of an initial compensable disability rating for past fibrocystic breast disease was granted with a noncompensable rating retroactively effective from October 27, 2003.

The case is being remanded to obtain relevant medical records from Clinton County Hospital and for further review of the DIC claim.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as the appellant, through his representative, withdrew the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's pulmonary fibrosis, finding that it had its onset in service.

The Veteran's son, the appellant, is currently receiving an apportionment of $79.00 per month for his helplessness status. The Veteran has a permanent and total disability rating, but the VA determined that the appellant does not meet the criteria for increased apportionment.

The Veteran's cause of death, liver cancer, was not found to be related to service or any incident therein. The Board determined that the evidence did not support a finding of exposure to ionizing radiation in service and thus could not establish service connection for liver cancer as secondary to such exposure.

The Board finds that the appellant's treatment for chest and abdominal pain, which was not an emergency requiring immediate medical attention, met the criteria for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred from March 17 to March 18, 2010.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate reasoning in a previous VA opinion and the need for additional service medical records. The Veteran's claim of service connection for antiphospholipid antibody syndrome is pending.

The preponderance of the evidence indicates that the Veteran's cold intolerance is not related to any incident of service.

The Veteran's pilonidal cyst scar, which contains a small hole in the center and measures approximately 3 cm, is manifested by complaints of pain and pressure. The Board has determined that an initial evaluation of 10 percent is warranted for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial evaluation for residuals of a fracture of the right tibia with sensory nerve damage is being remanded due to incomplete service treatment records and the need to identify his Reserve or Guard unit.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lower extremity edema is proximately due to or the result of his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.