Other conditions decisions — 2014

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left ear disability, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and his active duty service.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of recent VA examination and the need for additional evidence, including private treatment records.

The Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine its etiology. The claim will be reconsidered after these actions.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to October 1, 2007, for the award of special monthly compensation based on housebound criteria is denied as he did not meet the schedular criteria for SMC at that time and his disabilities were rated less than 100%.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for a VA examination to assess the current severity of his left spontaneous pneumothorax disability and for obtaining all relevant medical records.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for service connection of right knee disability, left knee disability, right knee arthritis, left knee arthritis, and bilateral hearing loss. The remaining issues have been dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and readjudication, including consideration of new evidence submitted by the Veteran.

The Board finds that the Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the first metatarsophalangeal joints with hallux rigidus is not related to his service-connected hypertension or medication used for it, and thus denied the claim.

The Veteran's left total knee replacement is granted as it was caused by his service-connected chondromalacia of the patella, leading to end-stage arthritis.

The Veteran's service-connected supraventricular tachycardia is currently rated at 10 percent, and the evidence does not support a higher rating based on more than four episodes per year of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation or other supraventricular tachycardia documented by electrocardiogram or Holter monitor.

The Veteran's additional disability, including neck pain, facial numbness, and slurred speech, is not deemed to be caused by VA medical care or treatment. The Board finds that the proximate cause of these disabilities was not due to VA's fault.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for nonservice-connected VA pension benefits due to a lack of credible evidence showing active military service, and thus the absence of legal merit or entitlement under the law.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to determine if the Veteran's net worth and income are within the limits for NSC pension benefits, including considering real property and medical expenses.

The Veteran's symptoms of stomach problems, dizziness, tiredness, night sweats, and insomnia are not due to undiagnosed illnesses or unexplained chronic multisymptom illnesses related to his service. They are attributed to his service-connected anxiety disorder and tinnitus.

The appellant has withdrawn her appeal regarding the issue of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, and as such, the Board does not have jurisdiction to review this matter.

The Veteran's loss of right arm function and chronic pain, as well as his syncopal episodes, are considered to be the result of a radical neck dissection performed by VA. The Board finds that these conditions were not caused by negligence or fault on the part of VA.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's respiratory disorder, finding that it is related to his active service.

The Veteran's right inguinal hernia has been rated at 10 percent since July 31, 2006. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating as his condition is postoperative and recurrent without requiring use of a truss or belt.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Munroe Regional Medical Center from January 30, 2012 to February 14, 2012 is denied as the Veteran was covered by Medicare and thus not eligible for reimbursement under VA regulations.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of whether there was CUE in September 25, 2000, and June 11, 2002, Board decisions that denied entitlement to vocational rehabilitation training under the provisions of Chapter 31, Title 38, United States Code.