Other conditions decisions — 2014

The Veteran's lung and skin disability claims are being remanded for additional development to obtain medical records, clarify the nature of his conditions, and provide a new VA examination.

The Board finds that the retroactive termination of additional disability compensation benefits for a dependent spouse, C., effective February 1, 1996, and the retroactive grant of additional disability compensation benefits for a dependent spouse, P., effective May 1, 2010, were proper.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's hypertrophic cardiomyopathy pre-existed active service.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses for an emergency room visit at Great Plains Regional Medical Center on May 30, 2011 are denied as the treatment was not rendered in response to a medical emergency and VA facilities were feasibly available.

The Veteran was previously awarded an automobile allowance in 1975 and is not entitled to a second award due to VA administrative error. The appeal is denied.

The Veteran is eligible for nonservice-connected pension benefits and the claim is granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development to determine if his hand and finger symptoms are caused or aggravated by his service-connected elbow disabilities, and for consideration of an extraschedular rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to deficiencies in its analysis, including an inadequate VA examination and a lack of corroborating medical records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of cold weather injury is now before the AOJ for additional development.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's varicose veins of the right lower extremity developed as a result of his duties during active service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran received emergency medical treatment for constipation at WMCH on August 11, 2009. The appellant made a prior authorization application to VA within 72 hours of the admission, which was deemed valid given the emergency nature of the situation.

The Veteran's service-connected left tarsal tunnel syndrome is currently rated at 10 percent, and the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's eye disability did not originate in active service or for many years thereafter, and is not related to any incident of such service or proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disability. Therefore, service connection for an eye disability, claimed as macular degeneration with blurred vision, is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected GI reaction and psychophysiological disability, manifested by chronic pain syndrome, have been granted increased ratings.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for cold injury residuals of his hands and feet are being remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's service-connected thoracic spine disability, finding that there was no evidence linking his left leg neurological impairment to his service-connected condition.

The case is being remanded for the Veteran to attend a Travel Board hearing at the RO.

The Veteran's cause of death was determined to be due to pancreatic cancer, which the Board found was incurred in service. As a result, his surviving spouse is granted service connection for the cause of his death.

The Veteran's shortness of breath and chest pain are presumed to be related to his service in the Persian Gulf, resulting from an undiagnosed illness.

The Board finds that the Veteran's arthritis of the bilateral great toes is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue was not found to be service-connected due to lack of evidence linking it to his military service or exposure to herbicides.