Other conditions decisions — 2015

The Veteran's son-in-law, the appellant, is seeking an earlier effective date for his father's award of special monthly pension. The Board has determined that this issue needs to be addressed and remanded.

The Veteran's spouse is not entitled to full-time DEA benefits for the fall 2012 semester as she reduced her course load from 12 hours to 6 hours, which falls under half-time status.

The Veteran's VRAP benefits for the Addiction Counseling Education program at Clark College from April 8, 2013 to June 20, 2013 were denied because she was not enrolled in full-time training.

The Veteran's medical procedure to remove sebaceous cysts was conducted at a non-VA facility without prior authorization from VA. The Board found that the treatment did not meet the criteria for payment or reimbursement by VA.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as he did not meet the criteria for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a non-VA facility on February 25, 2013.

The Veteran had qualifying service and was service-connected for disabilities. The Appellant meets the criteria for CHAMPVA benefits as her deceased spouse died due to a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's emergency room visit on January 18, 2012 at Franklin Square Hospital Center was due to a medical emergency and that no other criteria for reimbursement were not met. Therefore, payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses is granted.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses at Banner Ironwood Medical Center from March 18, 2012 until March 20, 2012 was denied due to the Veteran being clinically stable. The Board has ordered remand to obtain missing medical records.

The Board denied a compensable disability rating for service-connected agranulocytosis in December 2004, finding that the condition did not require medication and was not severe enough to warrant a higher rating. The Veteran's motion argues there was CUE but does not provide evidence showing the outcome would have been different.

The Board denied the Veteran's application for Veterans Mortgage Life Insurance (VMLI) under 38 U.S.C.A. § 2106, finding that there is no provision of law under which the Board may grant the benefits sought.

The VA determined that there is no evidence to support a finding of service connection for the Veteran's nerve disorder of the lower extremities, as it is less likely as not related to her service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board is dismissing the appeals for initial evaluations in excess of 10 percent for right and left shin strain.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination reports and the need for clarifying opinions regarding the Veteran's left leg contusion residuals, including neurological symptoms.

The VA examiner found that the Veteran's osteoarthritis in both hands was less likely than not incurred in or caused by service-connected PTSD and/or Raynaud's phenomenon. The Board concluded that the preponderance of evidence is against entitlement to service connection for arthritis of the bilateral hands, as secondary to service-connected PTSD and/or Raynaud's phenomenon.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the Veteran does not have mucoviscidosis and his heat intolerance is rated under Diagnostic Code 7904, hyperparathyroidism.

The Board found that the Veteran's current cardiac disability is not attributable to service or a disease/injury incurred during active service.

The Veteran's skin condition, diagnosed as heat rash, is not service connected because it did not manifest during active duty and there is no evidence of a chronic disability that meets the criteria for presumptive service connection. The shoulder disability claim is also denied.

The Board has remanded the case to gather additional information about in-service radiation and chemical exposure, as well as a dose estimate for any radiation exposure. The claim will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of a right eye cataract and macular degeneration, finding no evidence linking these conditions to his military service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's service-connected myelodysplastic leukemia and skin disorder did not meet the eligibility criteria for enhanced DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1311(a)(2) as he was only rated totally disabled for less than 8 continuous years prior to his death.