Other conditions decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not competent to handle his own financial disbursements and has ordered a remand for further examination.

The Board found that the Veteran's pericarditis did not have onset in service and is not related to a disease, injury or event in service. The Board also determined that the Veteran's pericarditis was not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected hypertension.

The Board has granted the appellant's request to reopen her claim for recognition of K- as the Veteran's adopted child for VA purposes, and has recognized K- as the Veteran's adopted child.

The Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine its etiology and whether it is related to his service exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private hospital due to a sore throat was denied as the condition did not meet the criteria for an emergency treatment by a prudent layperson.

The Veteran's lung disability, specifically Mounier-Kuhn Syndrome, is found to have been aggravated by exposure to herbicides during service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for a videoconference hearing before a Veterans Law Judge at the local RO.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 1, 2011, for payment of additional compensation benefits due to a dependent spouse. The decision states that there is no evidence of submission of completed VA Form 21-686c before July 7, 2011, and the Veteran began receiving additional compensation based on his spouse's dependency in August 1, 2011.

The Veteran's death was caused by pancreatic cancer, which the Board finds to be a result of his exposure to Agent Orange during service. As such, the claim for service connection for cause of death is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service records and the need for a VA examination to determine if any current right leg disability is related to active service.

The Veteran seeks payment for a licensing and certification test provided by the Army Corps of Engineers. The case is REMANDED to determine if the training course qualifies as a 'licensure test' offered by a Federal, State, or local government.

The appellant's service does not meet the eligibility requirements for VA home loan benefits due to serving less than 24 months of continuous active duty.

The Veteran's income exceeds the limit for receiving improved pension benefits based on the need for the aid and attendance of another person.

The Board determined that the appellant was legally entitled to overpayment of death pension benefits in the amount of $6,205 for the period from November 1, 2008 to November 1, 2009, and therefore the debt was not validly created.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical treatment for burns was not covered by VA because he had no prior VA healthcare services within the 24-month period before the emergency treatment. The claim is denied.

The Veteran's additional stomach disability is caused by VA treatment and the proximate cause of the disability was carelessness, negligence, lack of proper skill, error in judgment or similar instance of fault on the part of VA.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for chronic gastritis is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and proper notification of the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left hip disorder is related to his service-connected residuals of a fracture to the left tibia and fibula with left ankle arthritis, granting service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for hammertoes of the right third, fourth, and fifth post-operative toes has been granted with an effective date of June 2006.

The Veteran's service-connected left lower extremity varicose veins have been granted a 20 percent rating, effective October 2008. The issue of entitlement to an initial compensable evaluation for scars of the lower extremities was remanded and is pending further development. The TDIU claim remains pending.