Other conditions decisions — 2015

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a pulmonary embolism are considered asymptomatic and do not warrant an initial compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's panic disorder without agoraphobia is rated at 100 percent disabling since August 2009, effective from the date of his claim. The Board found that he was entitled to this rating based on the severity of his symptoms and their impact on his ability to work.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for microhematuria was denied as there is no evidence of a current disability. The retroactive payment of $4318 issued September 2009 for CRDP was also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a penetrating gunshot wound to the right thigh are currently rated at 10 percent, but his claim for an increased rating is denied. The Board found no evidence supporting secondary service connection for peripheral vascular disease of the bilateral legs.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Munroe Regional Medical Center on October 10, 2010 are approved as the emergency treatment was provided in a hospital emergency department and the claim for payment is timely filed.

The Board denied the Appellant's claim for recognition as an eligible surviving spouse of the Veteran for VA purposes due to her divorce from the Veteran at the time of his death, and thus she does not meet the legal criteria for a surviving spouse under VA regulations.

The Board has ordered additional development due to incomplete records from the Southern Regional Medical Center and requests for information on outstanding health care providers. The case will be returned to the Board after these actions are completed.

The Board found the appellant's character of discharge to be dishonorable due to willful and persistent misconduct, which constitutes a bar to VA benefits for his period of service from December 1961 to December 1964.

The Board has granted service connection for leukopenia and neutropenia, which are currently rated as 30 percent disabling. The Veteran's current symptoms include cold intolerance, fatigue, constipation, poor memory, and slow metabolism.

The Board found that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and denied the claim for service connection for the cause of his death.

The Board has remanded the case for an additional VA medical opinion to determine whether the Veteran's service-connected duodenal ulcer contributed substantially or materially to his death from esophageal cancer. The claim is being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's skin disability was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and the Board denied his claims for service connection. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss and external otitis were also evaluated, but no specific rating was assigned as the evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's claim for a one-time payment from the FVEC Fund is denied as he did not meet eligibility criteria.,The appellant's claims for accrued benefits and non-service-connected death pension are denied because no valid pending claims were found at the time of the Veteran's death, and she failed to submit an application within one year after his death.,The Veteran does not qualify for nonservice-connected death pension as he did not serve in a regular component of the U.S. Armed Forces.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death while the case was pending before the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.

The Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance is being remanded due to missing records. The VA will need to review all relevant documents and ensure that all outpatient treatment records are associated with the claims file.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for burial in a VA national cemetery because he did not have active military service and died from a disease or injury incurred during his Reserve service. The appeal is dismissed as there are no legal grounds to grant the claim.

The Board has remanded the case for further development to clarify the appellant's service discharge and non-pay days, as well as to obtain additional records from various sources. The appeal will be reconsidered based on the new evidence.

The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation based on the loss of use of his left hand has been granted, with a rating of 10 percent effective from April 24, 2009.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded due to the need for additional development related to his newly-filed claims of service connection and application to reopen a previously disallowed claim. The AOJ will adjudicate these issues before considering the TDIU claim.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a skin disability that was caused by his service and denied his claim for service connection.