Other conditions decisions — 2014

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral eye disorder and peptic ulcer, claimed as stomach disorder. The evidence received since the February 2004 rating decision raised a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal regarding the claim of service connection for arthritis of the left foot.

The Veteran is granted a rating of 30 percent for his digestive disorder, effective from April 4, 2012. His TDIU claim is also granted.

The Veteran is seeking payment or reimbursement for unauthorized medical expenses incurred in December 2010 and January 2011. The case has been remanded due to the need for additional records from private providers and VA facilities.

The Veteran's dental disability, identified as missing tooth number 8, is a result of trauma during active military service. Resolving the benefit of the doubt in favor of the Veteran, the criteria for service connection for missing tooth number 8 for the purpose of receiving Class II (a) VA outpatient dental treatment have been met.

The Veteran's unauthorized emergency medical expenses incurred at St. Francis Regional Medical Center in Grand Island, Nebraska on April 25, 2010 are covered by his commercial health insurance plan except for the patient deductible. As these charges are excluded under the Millennium Bill Act, the claim is denied.

The Veteran's and his spouse's income exceeded the maximum annual rate of pension, thus they are not eligible for reimbursement or payment of medical expenses incurred during non-VA ambulance transport on August 22, 2009, and August 28, 2009.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient compliance with previous remand directives and a need for further examination regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right eye disorder.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the case is dismissed.

The Veteran is seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for residuals of a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) induced by medication prescribed by VA Medical Center staff in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in 2002. The case has been remanded due to the failure to obtain an examination and provide medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for prostate cancer was denied as there were no prior claims or documents indicating entitlement to such benefits before May 2, 2006.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his claim for entitlement to service connection for a right eye cataract and has determined that there is sufficient evidence to establish a causal link between the current residuals of the right eye cataract and his active military service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA medical examination to assess the nature and etiology of neck pain and another VA audiology examination to determine if his bilateral hearing loss has worsened since the last evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) was denied as there is no evidence of in-service herbicide exposure or any other cause of CLL. The skin condition issue was dismissed due to the Veteran requesting withdrawal prior to a decision.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for recognition as the surviving spouse of the Veteran for VA death pension benefits purposes due to her remarriage after the Veteran's death, which precluded her from qualifying under the law.

The Board has remanded the case for a new VA examination to determine the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected left foot hammertoe deformities. The Veteran must provide authorization or submit private medical records from his treatment at a private podiatrist and any VA Medical Center in Dublin, Georgia.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection for his right hip and leg conditions due to incomplete records, including those from a private physician who treated him shortly after separation from service. The Veteran will be afforded another VA examination to determine if his current condition is related to his in-service injury.

The Board has determined that the appellant's claim seeking basic eligibility for nonservice-connected VA death pension benefits cannot be reopened because no new and material evidence was received to show qualifying service.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining records from Shands Hospital and a VA medical opinion regarding whether he stabilized prior to discharge.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a new examination and missing VA treatment records. The Veteran will be scheduled for an orthopedic examination to assess his current right leg disorder.