Other conditions decisions — 2012

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a prostate condition, finding that there was no evidence of any in-service disease or injury related to this condition and concluding that it is not related to his military service.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining evidence of the appellant's marriage to the Veteran and VA treatment records. A medical opinion will also be sought regarding whether the Veteran's death was related to his active service or any service-connected disorders.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for lupus erythematosus, including lupus nephritis is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and a medical examination.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for schizoaffective disorder was granted, and she is currently receiving a 50% disability rating. The effective date of this award is September 30, 1996, as that is the earliest date VA received her claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for peptic ulcer disease is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if he has any current gastrointestinal disability, including residual of duodenal ulcer disease surgically treated in 1972. The examiner will also provide an opinion on whether this condition is related to his service.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for chondromalacia of the left patella with x-ray evidence of mild degenerative joint disease and mild loss of range of motion was denied.,The Veteran's earlier effective date claim for the grant of a 10 percent rating for chondromalacia of the left patella with x-ray evidence of mild degenerative joint disease and mild loss of range of motion prior to April 14, 2004 was dismissed as his request was premature.

The Veteran's lung disorder has remained stable, with no significant changes in symptoms or disability level. The PTSD claim resulted in a partial increase to 30 percent for the period after July 15, 2010, but remains denied overall.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for his service-connected deformity of the fifth finger of the right hand was denied. The RO evaluated this condition as zero percent disabling.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of private medical expenses incurred from March 9 to March 10, 2007 is granted as the treatment was deemed necessary due to an emergent condition and no feasible VA facility was available.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his claims, including obtaining private treatment records from his doctors.

The Veteran's cold injury residuals of hands and feet have been granted service connection. The back injury issue is being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his residuals of radical retropubic prostatectomy and consideration of whether he is unemployable due to this condition.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for a sleep disorder, to include as due to an undiagnosed illness.

The Board has determined that the appellant's income and net worth for the years 2008 and 2009 is excessive for VA purposes, thus denying her claim for improved death pension benefits.

The Board finds that the private treatment rendered on April 3-4, 2009 was for a condition of such nature that a prudent layperson would have reasonably expected that delay in seeking immediate medical attention would have been hazardous to life or health. Therefore, payment or reimbursement for the cost of unauthorized private medical expenses incurred during this period is granted.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a non-VA medical facility on January 3, 2009 is denied as he did not receive any medical services within the previous 24 months prior to the incident and was not enrolled in the VA health care system.

The Veteran is seeking an initial compensable evaluation for a gunshot wound to the right hip and buttock. The case has been remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated medical records and scheduling the Veteran for a new VA examination.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current right hand disability and thus, service connection for residuals of a right hand fracture cannot be granted.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses for transportation and treatment at Corning Hospital from November 30, 2009 to December 3, 2009 are granted as the condition was an emergency that posed a serious threat to his health.

The Veteran's prostate disorder was not incurred in active service. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current prostate disorder and there is no evidence linking his current condition to his military service.