Other conditions decisions — 2013

The Board denied the appellant's claim for accrued benefits as there was no pending claim at the time of her husband's death, and she did not submit evidence of unreimbursed medical expenses/associated travel expenses until after his death.

The Veteran's residuals of a penetrating shell fragment wound to the right posterior chest and upper abdomen resulted in a post-dilator Forced Expiratory Volume in One Second (FEV-1) measurement of 80 percent predicted, a ratio of Forced Expired Volume in one second to Forced Vital Capacity (FEV-1/FVC) measurement of 78 percent, and Diffusion Capacity of the Lung for Carbon Monoxide by the Single Breath Method (DLCO(SB)) of 74 percent predicted. These findings met the criteria for a 100% rating under Diagnostic Code 6843.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to determine if any current facial or hand disabilities are related to service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current jaw disability, including pain and bruxism, was first manifested during service and continues to this day. Therefore, service connection is granted.

The Veteran's unauthorized private ambulance transportation on May 19, 2006 was not medically necessary and VA did not authorize the transport in advance. The Board found that the delay in seeking immediate medical attention would not have been hazardous to his life or health.

The Board found that the Veteran's cholangiocarcinoma did not have its onset during service and was not related to any service-connected condition, thus denying service connection for the cause of his death.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current Crohn's disease was incurred in active military service.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have qualifying service and therefore is not eligible for the one-time payment from the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation Fund.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not qualify for a one-time payment from the FVEC Fund due to lack of recognized U.S. Armed Forces service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for polycythemia vera (also claimed as myelofibrosis) and steatohepatitis, and denied his request to reopen the claim for steatohepatitis. The effective date of a 10 percent rating for left middle neuropathy due to trauma from shrapnel was not granted earlier than January 23, 2008.

The Board has determined that additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the Veteran's claim of service connection for a ventral hernia. The case is REMANDED to the RO via the Appeals Management Center (AMC), in Washington, DC.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Board denied the Appellant's application to reopen his claim of eligibility for VA compensation benefits, finding that the evidence submitted was not new and material.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed conditions, including mediastinal lymphadenopathy and rhizobium radiobacter, are not related to his military service or any in-service exposure. The condition is considered a chronic disease process or residual of an earlier infection.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a neurological disorder, including as due to herbicide exposure, is being remanded for further development and an opinion from the examiner who conducted his February 2012 VA examination.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records related to the Veteran's claim for disability benefits. The appeal is not about service connection at all.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a VA examination and additional development of his claims file. The Veteran was previously rated at 10 percent disability for urticaria with angioedema and herpes simplex, but he contends that this rating does not reflect his current symptomatology.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's loss of sense of smell and taste is causally related to his military service, including exposure to hazardous cargo during flight operations. As a result, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for a temporary total evaluation based on surgical treatment necessitating convalescence following his right eye surgery was denied as the evidence did not show severe postoperative residuals or at least one month of convalescence.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current respiratory/pulmonary disability is at least as likely as not related to his military service, including exposure to chemicals while on active duty.