Other conditions decisions — 2014

The VAMC denied the Veteran's request for a clothing allowance for 2013. The case is being remanded to schedule a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's current skin disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service. The Board finds the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for a skin disorder.

The VA examiners determined that the Veteran's recurrent upper respiratory infections (URI) did not constitute a chronic disability and were part of known clinical diagnoses. Therefore, service connection for a respiratory disorder is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's back pain was not caused by VA care, but rather due to a myelogram performed in 1978. The claim is denied as there is no evidence of fault on VA's part.

The Veteran's claim for Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) educational assistance benefits was denied as he did not meet the eligibility criteria due to insufficient qualifying active duty service.

The Board has remanded the claim for educational assistance under Chapter 32, Title 38, United States Code (Veterans Educational Assistance Program) due to additional evidence received after the July 2009 statement of the case. The claim will be readjudicated following completion of the June 2012 remand instructions.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for alopecia areata is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Veteran's lung disability and skin condition are not service-connected as they do not have a link to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current heart murmur and mitral regurgitation are not related to his active service. The dental condition claim is also denied as there is no evidence of a service-connected disability resulting from in-service trauma.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining in-patient clinical records and a medical opinion regarding the relationship between his HSP episode during service and subsequent complications.

The Veteran's tissue injury in chest is rated at 10 percent, and the effective date for service connection of mood disorder with depression and anxiety remains January 27, 2011. The Board granted a TDIU on an extra-schedular basis prior to July 14, 2011 and on and after October 26, 2011.

The appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant's representative before a decision was made.

The Veteran's current porphyria cutanea tarda did not begin during, or was otherwise caused by, his active service, to include any alleged herbicide exposure therein. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for recognition as the surviving spouse, for purposes of eligibility for VA non-service-connected death pension benefits due to her remarriage and lack of legal basis for reinstatement.

The Veteran's claim for accrued benefits was not timely filed, and therefore the criteria for entitlement to accrued benefits are not met.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of May 2010 for additional compensation for a dependent spouse, finding that the evidence did not meet the regulatory requirements for an earlier effective date.

The Veteran seeks payment or reimbursement for medical expenses incurred at a private facility on November 30, 2010 and December 7, 2010. The claim is currently pending as the VAMC denied it due to lack of prior authorization. The case is being remanded to obtain additional records from Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville, Florida.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's left eye disorder, which may be related to service. The Veteran is seeking service connection for a current eye condition that he believes was caused by in-service mortar blasts.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obesity is not etiologically related to his active service and is not caused or aggravated by any of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's unauthorized private medical expenses incurred at Salina Regional Health Center from July 8, 2011 to July 11, 2011 were not authorized prior to receipt and the Veteran refused treatment at a feasibly available VA facility. Therefore, reimbursement is denied.