Other conditions decisions — 2012

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn due to the grant of service connection for pes planus, resolving his claim.

The Board denied service connection for cardiomyopathy as the evidence did not support a finding that it was incurred in or aggravated by service, and there was no secondary aggravation of hypertension.

The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings for his left foot disabilities are granted. The temporary total rating for right hallux valgus is also granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's arthritis of the neck and its relationship to his service-connected left shoulder impingement syndrome.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for memory loss as there is no probative evidence of record that his current condition is etiologically related to active service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a new VA examination to determine the nature and severity of the Veteran's residuals from his shrapnel wound and whether any left arm fracture is related to his service-connected disability.

The Board is reopening the claim for service connection for a right foot/leg disorder due to new and material evidence. However, the underlying merits of this claim are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for a skin disorder, which he claims had its onset during his military service. The VA has not provided an adequate examination to assess the current state of his skin condition and determine if it is related to his military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA examination results and records. The claims will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn prior to the Board issuing a decision.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for a lung disorder, including as due to asbestos exposure, is remanded for further development and an examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran submitted a timely substantive appeal for her claim of service connection for right arm numbness, and thus grants this portion of her appeal.

The Veteran's left upper extremity disability is rated at 20 percent, effective from the date of his claim. The Board granted service connection for this condition and denied service connection for a left elbow disability and a left eye injury.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred on February 26, 2008 at Brooksville Regional Hospital was denied because the services were not rendered in a medical emergency that would have been hazardous to life or health if delayed. VA facilities were feasibly available and an attempt to use them beforehand would not have been unreasonable.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to incomplete records and the need for further examination. The case will be returned to the Board for final adjudication.

The Board has determined that a new VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected status post left inguinal hernia repair, as her condition may have worsened since previous evaluations.

The Veteran's tinnitus is as likely as not related to his active service, and the Board finds that he has a current disability of tinnitus. The Veteran's right foot disability may have worsened since the January 2009 examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for further development, including obtaining additional service records and a VA examination to determine if his current respiratory disorder and testicular cancer are related to his military service.

The Board has remanded the case due to additional evidence and arguments submitted by the appellant, including her claim that the Veteran's deviated septum made him more susceptible to Agent Orange exposure and nasopharyngeal cancer. The case will be reviewed for service connection under new and material criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's medical expenses for treatment received at a private facility from October 29, 2006 to October 30, 2006 were not reimbursable under VA regulations because no VA or other Federal facility was feasibly available and an attempt to use one beforehand would not have been considered reasonable by a prudent lay person. However, the Board found that the Veteran's condition warranted emergency medical attention due to worsening abdominal pain and vomiting, which led him to seek treatment at a private facility.