Other conditions decisions — 2015

The VA Committee on Waivers and Compromises (COWC) granted a waiver of $2,059.78 of the overpayment debt calculated as $4,375.00 due to financial hardship.

The Veteran's bilateral foot condition is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine if it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected knee disabilities. The appeal will be remanded again once the necessary records are obtained and reviewed.

The Board has determined that additional service personnel and treatment records are needed to fully adjudicate the Veteran's claims. Additionally, new VA examinations are required for his bilateral hand and feet disorders, as well as a skin disorder of bilateral feet.

The Board found that the Veteran's malaria did not cause or contribute to his death, and thus denied DIC benefits based on service connection for the cause of death.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling VA examinations. The Veteran's claims will be readjudicated based on all received evidence.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a stomach disability, to include as secondary to medication prescribed for his service-connected disabilities, is being remanded for further development.

The Board has determined that the VA examination and opinion provided in May 2011 are inadequate for adjudicating the claim. The Veteran's recurrent staph infections have been remanded for an addendum opinion to address whether it is at least as likely as not that the condition began in service, was caused by service, or is otherwise causally related to active service.

The Veteran requested withdrawal of his appeal regarding the service connection for schizoaffective disorder, and thus, the case is dismissed.

The Board has granted service connection for reflex sympathetic dystrophy of the right upper extremity as secondary to the service-connected residuals of the mid-shaft ulnar fracture, status post open reduction internal fixation, right forearm.

The Veteran's cognitive disorder and memory loss are found to be caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD and Parkinson's disease. The effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is set at October 29, 2009.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for dental trauma due to new and material evidence received since the last final denial in October 1965. The Veteran reported that his front upper teeth were knocked out during service, which is considered a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected ulcerative colitis.

The Veteran's income fell below the maximum allowed for entitlement to nonservice-connected pension from May 2009 to June 2010.

The Veteran's service-connected multi-finger disability has been manifested by pain, decrease in range of motion, stiffness, coldness, and functional impairment of the index finger which more nearly approximates limitation of motion with a gap of one inch or more between the fingertip and the proximal transverse crease of the palm, with the finger flexed to the extent possible; at no point during the appeal period has ankylosis of one of more digits been shown or approximated.

The Veteran's urticaria was not first manifested during active service, nor does the evidence establish that such a disability is otherwise related to such service. The claim for service connection for urticaria as due to herbicide exposure is denied.

The Board has determined that the appellant's request for a waiver of overpayment was timely filed. The case is remanded to determine if the debt for an overpayment of service-connected compensation in the amount of $23,766.30 was properly created and calculated.

The Veteran sought reimbursement for unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private emergency medical facility due to a nonservice-connected myocardial infarction. The claim is denied as the Veteran has coverage under Medicare, which precludes reimbursement.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Florida Hospital from September 11-14, 2013 is denied as he did not meet the criteria for payment under VA regulations.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a platelet disorder and has determined that new and material evidence has been received. The Board also found in favor of the Veteran, concluding that his platelet disorder is at least as likely as not related to his ACDUTRA or INACDUTRA participation.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.