Other conditions decisions — 2014

The Board has remanded the case for further evidentiary development due to insufficient information regarding the cause and circumstances of the Veteran's left eye retinal tear, which may have occurred during INACDUTRA.

The appeal is being remanded due to the need for a videoconference hearing before the Board.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining signed consents for surgeries and a VA examination to determine if any additional disability resulted from the March 2010, November 2010, and January 2011 VA surgeries. The issue of service connection for depression as secondary to right long finger amputation is also being remanded.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant, and thus the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining VA medical records and scheduling an appropriate examination to assess the current orthopedic and neurological manifestations of her left foot hallux valgus.

The Veteran sought treatment for a sore throat and problems swallowing at Baptist Hospital on June 9, 2011. The Board found that the emergency services were not provided in a medical emergency of such nature that delay would have been hazardous to life or health, and VA facilities were feasibly available.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for the scheduling of a hearing before the Board at a local VA office.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred from November 7, 2011 to December 9, 2011 for a stroke are denied as he did not receive VA health care within the required timeframe and was not service-connected for any disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected torn left quadriceps and surgical scar on the left thigh are currently rated at 10 percent each, with no higher evaluations granted. The symptoms associated with these conditions do not warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred in September 2011 were denied as he was not service-connected for a cardiac disability at the time and did not meet other eligibility criteria.

The Veteran's right knee disability is rated at 20 percent, effective from August 22, 2011. The left knee and ankle disabilities are each rated at 20 percent, also effective from August 22, 2011.

The Veteran's service-connected right and left knee disabilities have been rated at 10 percent each, but the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of a cold injury of both feet is granted as the evidence shows that these residuals are related to his in-service exposure to cold.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the death of the appellant, and no jurisdiction remains for further action.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining additional medical records and providing a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's skin disability of the feet is related to service or diabetes.

The Veteran's service-connected restrictive lung disease with pulmonary fibrosis, honeycombing, and bronchiectasis warrants a staged rating of 30 percent from October 22, 2010 to December 1, 2011; and 60 percent (but no higher) from December 1, 2011.

The Board found that the Veteran was properly divorced from his first two wives and legally married to the appellant, thus finding that the appellant should be recognized as the Veteran's dependent for VA purposes.

The Veteran's MRSA was not shown to be causally related to the VA medical treatment she received in April through June 2007, and her claim for benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is denied.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement or payment of the Steady Flow with HEC-RAS course provided by USACE in October 2011 was denied as the course is not an approved certification or licensure examination and does not result in certification or licensure.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a supplemental medical opinion on the etiology of current bilateral foot disorders and whether any preexisting foot disorder(s) was aggravated during active military service.