Other conditions decisions — 2015

The Veteran's defecatory dysfunction with incomplete rectal emptying and fecal incontinence requires the wearing of absorbent materials due to occasional involuntary bowel movements with moderate fecal leakage. The Board has determined that a 30 percent disability rating is warranted.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and he did not have any pending claims for compensation or pension at the time of his death. Therefore, the appellant is not entitled to nonservice-connected burial benefits.

The Veteran's private medical expenses incurred on January 11, 2010 were not authorized in advance by VA and thus reimbursement is denied.

The Veteran's spouse is seeking reimbursement for unauthorized medical expenses incurred on March 8, 2013. The RO denied the claim due to Medicare coverage. The case has been remanded for further action including an audit of the Veteran's inpatient care and a determination of unpaid expenses.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing. The Veteran's claim is not about service connection and thus does not involve any conditions or exposure basis.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current low back disability is related to service and grants service connection for residuals of a status post L4-S1 hemilaminectomy, discectomy, with medial facetectomy (claimed as chronic lower back pain).

The Veteran's appeal for payment of or reimbursement for unauthorized medical treatment provided by Southern Oregon Cardiology during the period April 17-19, 2014 is denied. The AOJ must obtain and associate with the record any billing documents from Southern Oregon Cardiology showing the claimed charges.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for left and right eye disorders has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal after receiving a decision granting service connection with a rating of 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's sleep condition is a symptom of his service-connected major depressive disorder and does not constitute a separate disability for which service connection may be granted.

The appeal is being remanded to obtain missing service treatment records and VA claims folder, as well as the Veteran's service personnel records. The case will be readjudicated in light of all evidence.

The Veteran's dementia was not incurred in or aggravated by service, and an organic disease of the nervous system may not be presumed to have been incurred in or aggravated by service.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the appellant's claims of service connection for left eye, right testicle, and heart/cardiovascular disorders due to potential aggravation during periods of active duty.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of injuries sustained during a motor vehicle accident and found that new and material evidence was submitted. The issue is now remanded to consider the merits of the claim.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting a VA examination.

The Veteran's claim for increased rating of lichen simplex chronicus pruritus scrotic was denied, and his claim for service connection for genital herpes remains pending. The Board found that the Veteran's skin condition did not meet the criteria for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent prior to April 19, 2010, and in excess of 30 percent thereafter.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for further development, including a new VA examination. The case will be returned to the AOJ for appropriate action.

The Veteran died due to service-connected causes. The appellant was awarded $2,000 in burial benefits based on the cause of death. Since the Veteran was not buried in a national or state cemetery and no other provisions for burial benefits apply, additional burial benefits are denied.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding whether new and material evidence has been presented to reopen a claim for entitlement to service connection for a stomach condition.

The Veteran meets the requirements for a certificate of eligibility for assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing due to permanent and total service-connected disability, including loss of use of one lower extremity and loss of use of one upper extremity.

The Veteran's esophageal cancer was not shown to be related to his service, including exposure to herbicides. The Board found no competent evidence linking the esophageal cancer to active duty.