Other conditions decisions — 2015

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding his joint pain, gastrointestinal system disability, and respiratory system disability. The VA will determine if these conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for nonsustained ventricular and supraventricular tachycardia, status post AICD implantation was granted in July 2009 with an effective date of January 30, 2009. The Board denied a request for an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's service-connected prolactin microadenoma has not resulted in any symptoms such as pelvic pain or heavy/irregular bleeding, and thus does not meet the criteria for a higher initial evaluation.

The Board has decided to remand the case for clarification of the type of SSA benefits received and for submission of any unreimbursed medical expenses.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for testicular cancer is being remanded due to the need for a VA medical examination and opinion regarding whether his current condition is related to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's cause of death, congestive heart failure, was not incurred in or aggravated by his military service and thus denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to ensure the Veteran and his estranged spouse are properly notified of their rights, including providing copies of statements of the case and supplemental statement of the case. The appeal will be remanded for these purposes.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a VA medical opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred from July 3, 2009 to July 10, 2009 are being remanded for further clarification and evaluation of the stability criteria.

The Board has granted service connection for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are at least as likely as not caused by her military service. The decision is based on conflicting yet informed medical evidence and credible assertions from the Veteran.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the glottis is not related to his in-service exposure to ionizing radiation and therefore, service connection for this condition is denied. The Board also found no evidence linking the other claimed conditions to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral shin splints is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and providing a supplemental VA medical opinion.

The Veteran's postoperative residuals, Billroth II, antrectomy, and vagotomy with hiatal hernia have been rated at 40 percent since March 5, 2010. The symptoms of regurgitation, nausea, indigestion, heartburn, occasional pain, and bezoars are considered to meet the criteria for a 30 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 7346.

The Board found that the assignment of a rating greater than 30 percent for coronary artery disease was not warranted prior to June 22, 2012. The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU is referred to the Director of Compensation and Pension Service for extra-schedular consideration.

The Board finds the Veteran has no legal entitlement to REAP benefits and denies the appeal.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a disability for which service connection for a dental disorder for compensation purposes can be granted.

The Veteran was treated at Sumner Regional Medical Center for an acute postoperative wound infection of the left foot. The Board found that he met the criteria for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses due to his service-connected disabilities, a prudent layperson's belief in the emergency nature of his symptoms, and the unavailability of VA facilities within reasonable distance.

The Board has granted service connection for brain cancer for the purposes of accrued benefits and as the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that exposure to Agent Orange or contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune caused or contributed to the development of his anaplastic astrocytoma.

The Board denied the Appellant's request to posthumously increase the Veteran's combined disability rating because VA is not allowed to do so, and the appeal was dismissed as a matter of law.

The Veteran's overpayment of $3,850 in pension benefits was found to be invalid due to his concurrent receipt of SSA disability benefits and subsequent award of compensation benefits. The compensation benefits effectively eliminated the overpayment.