Other conditions decisions — 2014

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have a gastrointestinal disorder that is related to military service, and thus his claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran received emergency treatment for non-service-connected medical conditions at a private hospital. The VA Medical Center was not feasibly available, and the ambulance personnel determined that the nearest appropriate level of care was at this private hospital. As such, the criteria for payment were met.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for generalized joint and muscle pain and fatigue, to include as due to an undiagnosed illness and/or secondary to his service-connected IBS, is being remanded for additional development.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a gunshot wound to the left thigh during service and no current disability related to such an injury. The claim for service connection for residuals of a gunshot wound to the left thigh is denied.

The Veteran's residuals of a crush injury to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd digits of the left hand are not shown to warrant a compensable rating.

The Veteran's left thumb disability, which resulted in a healed fracture, is currently rated at 10 percent disabling. The VA determined that the condition does not warrant an increased rating as it causes pain and limited motion without significant additional functional loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing service treatment records and a need for an addendum medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's throat cancer and his in-service duties as a firefighter.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's memory loss and impaired concentration are secondary to her service-connected fibromyalgia, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board finds that the Veteran's gallbladder removal and cholecystitis are not related to his military service, including ionizing radiation exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for the post-operative residuals of a ventral or umbilical hernia, finding that it is at least as likely as not due to an injury during active service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected laceration of the scalp residuals is being remanded due to the need for additional examination and development.

The Veteran is seeking service connection for reduction mastectomy, which she claims was performed to treat her service-connected degenerative disc disease. The VA examiner's opinion did not address whether the DDD caused or aggravated the need for breast reduction surgery.

The Veteran's right hip bursitis is rated at 20 percent disabling, and a TDIU remains in effect as of January 8, 2010.

The Veteran seeks service connection for Hodgkin's disease, which he believes is related to herbicide exposure during his time in Thailand. The case has been remanded due to the need to confirm if herbicides were used at the Marine Air Base where the Veteran served.

The Veteran's appeal for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred in January 2009 has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board has determined that basic eligibility to receive accrued benefits is granted. However, the claim for nonservice-connected pension and SMP based on the need for aid and attendance remains pending and needs to be adjudicated by the AOJ.

The Board found that the termination of NSC pension benefits, effective February 1, 2010, due to an increase in countable income was proper.

The Veteran was granted service connection for urinary incontinence, with the Board finding that her symptoms began during active duty and were related to her deliveries of macrosomic infants.

The Board found that the overpayment for the period from October 1, 1994 to August 31, 1995 was valid and granted the appeal for the period from September 1, 1995 to February 1, 2002.

The Veteran's post-operative residuals of ventral hernias are rated at 20 percent, and his post-operative scars related to hernia repair are noncompensably disabling.