Other conditions decisions — 2015

The Veteran's death was used to approve accrued benefits in the amount of $5023. The appellant is seeking reimbursement for additional expenses related to his father's last illness, and needs to provide a detailed accounting of these unreimbursed expenses.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of a right eye disability, effectively dismissing the case.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the claims regarding whether the appellant is considered competent for handling VA benefits and entitlement to accrued benefits due to the death of the appellant during the pendency of her appeals.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development to clarify the extent and frequency of his radiation proctitis, including whether he requires incontinence pads due to involuntary bowel movements or leakage.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for DIC, death pension and accrued benefits as she is not recognized as the Veteran's surviving spouse.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement or payment of a NACE International Coating Inspector Level 1 course and certification, along with OSHA Construction Safety Training and Excavation courses and certifications, in January and March 2012 was denied as the courses were not approved by either a state approving agency (SAA) or VA.

The Veteran's service did not meet the eligibility requirements for educational assistance under Chapters 30, 33, or 1607 of Title 38 and Title 10 respectively. The Board denied his claims as a matter of law.

The Board found that a partial waiver of the overpayment in the amount of $17,367.15 is warranted due to financial hardship and that recovery would defeat the purpose for which benefits were intended.

The appellant is not a surviving child of the Veteran for VA benefits eligibility purposes and therefore, is not entitled to VA death benefits.

The Veteran's appeal for an automobile and adaptive equipment or adaptive equipment only was dismissed as there is no valid claim, nor any specific allegation of error of fact or law.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for further verification regarding his enrollment in VA healthcare and availability of appointments prior to his private treatment at Bellevue Medical Center.

The Veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits is denied as he did not serve during a period of war, and thus does not meet the legal requirements for eligibility.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical treatment at Kenai Peninsula Orthopedics on October 24, 2012 was denied because the care provided was not in response to an emergency situation and VA facilities were reasonably available.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection for a dental disability (loss of teeth) for compensation purposes.

The Veteran's compression fracture of L1 has been rated at 40 percent since March 10, 2012. Additionally, a separate 10 percent rating is assigned for the demonstrable deformity of vertebral body associated with the compression fracture.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, as well as arranging for examinations to assess the Veteran's claimed disabilities. The appeal will be returned to the Board after these actions are completed.

The Board has ordered additional development to determine the nature of the Appellant's National Guard service from March 28, 2005 to August 31, 2006 and whether it qualifies for educational assistance benefits under Chapter 33 of Title 38 of the United States Code (Post-9/11 GI Bill).

The Veteran's Chapter 33 education benefits were extended to the end of his term, April 22, 2015, as he had completed more than half of the course by that date.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral cataracts are not etiologically related to his service or any service-connected disability, including diabetes mellitus. The evidence does not support a finding of direct service connection.

The Veteran's initial disability ratings for trigger finger of the left and right hands, as well as plantar fasciitis with heel spurs and mid-foot degenerative changes in both feet, were denied. The evidence did not meet or approximate criteria for a compensable rating under applicable diagnostic codes.