Other conditions decisions — 2012

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back or spine disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records from his private doctor and chiropractor.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition.,His acquired psychiatric disorder, rated at 30 percent, did not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Board has ordered the RO to obtain the appellant's service treatment records (STRs) and review the case again. The character of the appellant's discharge from service is being reconsidered, with a focus on whether it constitutes a bar to VA benefits.

The Veteran's emergency medical treatment at University Community Hospital- Carrollwood on July 14, 2003 was deemed necessary due to his severe condition and the prudent layperson standard applied. The claim is granted as he satisfied all other criteria for reimbursement under VA regulations.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not eligible for Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR) educational assistance benefits due to her failure to complete initial active duty for training, as confirmed by DOD. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran died in a motor vehicle accident due to cocaine and ethanol abuse. Service connection for diabetes mellitus was in effect at the time of death, but there is no evidence linking his fatal condition to service-connected diabetes or any other service-related factor.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for depressive reaction was denied because he failed to report for a scheduled VA examination without good cause.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected right mandible fracture and obtaining any outstanding private treatment records.

The Board has determined that additional development is necessary before the claim can be decided, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA skin examination.

The Board found no evidence of current shin splints or right arm disorder and denied service connection for the claimed disabilities.

The Veteran's left lower extremity nerve disability is manifested by symptoms indicative of moderately severe incomplete paralysis, warranting a 40 percent evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new examination of his right fifth finger disability and the acquisition of relevant medical records.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and opinion regarding his service-connected chronic central serous retinopathy status post focal laser treatment OU, and its impact on his ability to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's spouse is not eligible for VA death benefits, including Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) and death pension benefits.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a medical opinion regarding whether his bilateral hip disorder is secondary to his service-connected low back disability, and for further development of the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his right hand disability is being remanded due to the need for further development, including another VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for adding his spouse as a dependent was denied because he did not provide sufficient proof of marriage to establish entitlement to additional VA benefits until January 2008.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for legal entitlement to the one-time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund due to a lack of qualifying service with the United States Armed Forces.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a VA examination and updated treatment records, and to adjudicate the issues of an increased rating for claustrophobia and TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is denied because the radiation treatment he received at a private medical facility did not meet the legal criteria for such benefits.