Other conditions decisions — 2012

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Osceola Regional Hospital from June 8, 2006 to June 10, 2006 were denied as the care rendered was not in an emergency situation and VA facilities were available for transfer.

The Board finds that the Veteran's obesity is not a compensable disability in and of itself, and service connection for obesity is not warranted. The preponderance of the evidence does not show that his obesity is related to his service-connected low back disorder.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to determine if the Veteran's skin disorder at the posterior region of his neck was pre-existing and whether it was aggravated by service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of hearing before the Veteran. The only issue on appeal is service connection for a left foot disorder.

The Veteran's death was found to be due to hypoxic brain injury resulting from VA medical treatment, and the claim for DIC benefits is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current sinus disability is related to his service, and thus grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been received to reopen the claim for service connection for a right foot disorder.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses for April 25-26, 2009 at Skaggs Regional Medical Center in Branson, Missouri are approved as the emergency treatment was necessary and a VA facility was not feasibly available.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing a supplemental statement of the case. The appellant's claim for widow's aid and attendance or housebound benefits is pending.

The appellant's service is not verified, and therefore he does not meet the criteria for the benefit sought.

The case is being remanded to the AOJ for initial consideration of all evidence pertinent to the Veteran's back disorder, including VA treatment records. The claims for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation are inextricably intertwined with the TDIU claim.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for an earlier effective date for DIC benefits, finding that November 13, 2004, was the appropriate effective date based on her reopened claim. The decision also granted service connection and a rating of 100%.

The Veteran's right buttock GSW residuals affecting Muscle Group XVII are currently manifested by moderate impairment, and the criteria for a higher disability rating have not been met.

The Board found that the Veteran died from metastatic pharyngeal cancer, which was not a respiratory cancer and therefore not subject to presumptive service connection based on herbicide exposure. As such, his death is not considered service-connected.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for clarification of her current address and additional VA examination.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his eye disorder.

The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to new evidence and changes in circumstances since the last decision.

The Veteran does not have bilateral shin splints that are due to disease or injury incurred in service. The Board denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax does not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 60 percent, as his pulmonary function test results do not indicate values to less than 40 percent predicted or exercise capacity below 15 ml/kg/min.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for cardiac arrhythmias was denied as there is no evidence of permanent atrial fibrillation or episodes of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation or other supraventricular tachycardia documented by ECG or Holter monitor.