Other conditions decisions — 2013

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration of the appellant's claim for payment or reimbursement for unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Alliance Community Hospital on June 22, 2010. The VAMC must consider all additional evidence received since the SOC and all applicable statutory and regulatory provisions including 38 U.S.C.A. � 1725 and � 1728 and 38 C.F.R. � 17.1002.

The Veteran seeks service connection for a bilateral hip disorder, but the evidence does not show a currently diagnosed hip disability. The Board finds that the preponderance of the evidence is against the claim.

The Veteran's Crohn's disease was not shown in service, was first diagnosed in 1984, and is not etiologically related to active service. Therefore, the claim for service connection for Crohn's disease has been denied.

The Veteran incurred medical expenses for private medical treatment at Winter Haven Hospital from February 7, 2005 to February 10, 2005. The VAMC paid for expenses incurred on February 7 and 8, 2005. The Board found that the Veteran was stable for transfer as of February 9, 2005, but a VA facility was not feasibly available due to lack of bed availability.

The Veteran is found to be unemployable due to his service-connected skin disability, which causes recurrent cellulitis and limits his ability to work during flare-ups.

The Veteran's low back disability was rated at 20 percent from August 2, 2006, forward.

The Veteran's claims for service connection were denied for mitral valve prolapse with mild regurgitation/heart murmur, herpes simplex virus (HSV), skin rash other than HSV, jaw pain, and endometriosis. The Board found no evidence to support these claims.

The Board has ordered a remand to obtain additional medical evidence and determine whether the Veteran's heart disabilities are related to his service-connected conditions, including hypertension and chronic kidney disease.

The Board found that the Veteran's preexisting hernia repair worsened and recurred during a period of ACDUTRA in May 1997, beyond its natural progression. The Board granted service connection for residuals of hernia repair on this basis.

The Veteran's cause of death, refractory acute myeloid leukemia, was not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking it to his military service or presumed herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for one-time payment from the FVEC Fund due to her spouse not having service as a member of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, including recognized guerrillas, in the service of the United States Armed Forces.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left foot and/or toe disability did not have onset in service, was not manifest within a year of separation from service, is not causally related to service, and was not caused or aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Board has determined that the appellant's service-connected residuals of a left great toe fracture with toenail removal warrant a rating of 10 percent, and he is not entitled to TDIU.

The Board has found that a remand is required to obtain and associate with the claims file the Veteran's treatment records from his January 24, 2012, visit to Clearwater Valley Hospital. Additionally, a medical opinion is needed regarding whether the care provided was rendered in a medical emergency.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals, antrectomy, vagotomy, and gastrojejunostomy due to duodenal ulcer have been evaluated as moderate postgastrectomy syndrome with no substantial weight loss or malnutrition. The current evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for spinal meningitis, finding that there is no current disability related to his in-service meningitis.

The Board found no evidence of a current left eye disability related to active service or any incident of active service.,The Veteran's surgery performed in September 1999 did not result in additional disability due to carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment, or similar instance of fault on the part of VA.

The Board found that the Veteran's current diagnosed bilateral hallux valgus, hammertoes of the second toe bilaterally, and chronic bilateral foot strain are not related to his military service.

The case is being remanded due to the need for additional development of the Veteran's medical records from Johnston Memorial Hospital in Smithfield, North Carolina. The appellant must be given an opportunity to provide any additional evidence or respond to the requests.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant, and no jurisdiction remains for adjudicating the merits of these claims.