Other conditions decisions — 2014

The Board has determined that a new competency examination is needed due to the lapse of time since the previous examination, and all outstanding VA treatment records should be obtained.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verification of the Veteran's Reserve service dates. The appeal will be reconsidered after this additional information is obtained.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and inconsistencies in the service record regarding the Veteran's alleged Gulf War service. The Hodgkin's lymphoma claim is being reconsidered as it was reopened on new evidence, while the blood clot claim remains pending.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal and thus, no jurisdiction remains to adjudicate the merits of the claim.

The Veteran seeks waiver of overpayment of Chapter 33 educational assistance benefits for housing allowance in the amount of $1,432.20 and books and supplies in the amount of $375.03.,VA was at fault in creating the overpayments for books and supplies due to incorrect information provided by a VA employee. The Veteran detrimentally relied on this information.

The appellant is not recognized as the Veteran's surviving spouse for purposes of establishing eligibility for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits due to her remarriage after the age of 57, which falls outside the exception set by VA regulations.

The Board has remanded the case for an audit of the appellant's pension account from February 1, 2007 to determine the amounts actually paid and legally due. The appellant and her representative will be provided with a Supplemental Statement of the Case.

The Veteran's child was granted reimbursement for the costs of three Florida Teacher Certification Examinations (FTCE) tests taken in October and November 2011, totaling $550.00, with a partial reimbursement already awarded by VA.

The appellant's request for eligibility for Chapter 35 Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits has been denied, and the case is being remanded to schedule a videoconference Board hearing.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a confirmed clinical diagnosis of Reiter's syndrome, reactive arthritis, or soft tissue rheumatism and thus denied service connection for these conditions.

The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected pterygia did not result in any impairment of visual acuity warranting a compensable rating.

The Board finds that the unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Sparrow Hospital on April 12, 2011, were for a non-emergent condition and that VA facilities were available to treat it. Therefore, the claim is denied.

The Veteran's service connection claims for left eye cataract, squamous blepharitis, and meibomitis have been granted. The claim for increased rating of the service-connected residuals of a fracture of the calcaneus bone, left heel with plantar fasciitis

The Board has granted service connection for right eye keratitis sicca with any associated loss of visual acuity and left eye loss of visual acuity associated with keratitis sicca. Service connection is denied for refractive error in either eye as it is not a compensable disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's ADHD was incurred in active service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's adult daughter, who paid the expenses of his last illness, is now entitled to $25,068.47 in special monthly pension benefits.

The Board has determined that it is at least as likely as not that the Veteran's right hip degenerative joint disease (arthritis) is related to his service, specifically a fall in service. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has granted service connection for the edema of the lower extremities as secondary to diabetes mellitus. The Veteran's impotence is rated at 20% based on loss of erectile power, and he already receives SMC due to this condition.

The Board found that the Veteran's skin cancer disorders are not related to service or any incident of service, including in-service sun exposure. The claim for hypertension was also addressed but is not included as a separate issue.

The Veteran's service-connected DVT, protein S deficiency and hyperhomocysteinemia of the right leg is currently rated at 10 percent. The Board found that the symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.