Other conditions decisions — 2015

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional records and VA medical opinions. The issues of service connection for atypical chest pain and left thigh pain are still pending.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information regarding when the appellant filed for SSA benefits, which is relevant to determining an earlier effective date for service connection.

The Veteran died of hypopharyngeal cancer, which the VA does not consider to be related to his service. The claim for service connection for the cause of death is denied.

The Board has determined that additional inpatient or clinical records from McDonald Army Hospital in Fort Eustis, Virginia are needed to support the Veteran's claims. The AOJ is also requested to obtain and associate with the claims file any outstanding medical records, including VA treatment records dated from 2010 onwards.

The Veteran's discharge from service is not considered honorable, which disqualifies him from receiving educational assistance under the Post-9/11 GI Bill.

The Board has determined that additional development is required to verify the appellant's late husband's service as a member of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, including the recognized guerillas, in the service of the United States Armed Forces. The case will be returned for further action.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as the claim for an amount in excess of $300 for reimbursement of nonservice-connected burial expenses has not met the legal criteria.

The VA determined that the appellant did not meet the requirements to be recognized as the Veteran's surviving spouse for DIC, death benefits or accrued benefits purposes due to lack of a valid marriage under Nevada law.

The Veteran's right thumb disability has been granted a 10 percent rating since August 24, 2011. The VA examiner found evidence of painful motion related to the service-connected disability.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical treatment at Bob Wilson Memorial Hospital on January 17, 2012 was denied as VA facilities were deemed reasonably available and the visit did not meet the criteria for an emergency.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to the death of the appellant during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's Raynaud's phenomena is found to have started during service and continues today, warranting service connection.

The appeal is being remanded due to the need for further procedural steps, including notifying the Veteran of the appellant's substantive appeal and requesting relevant records from SSA. Additionally, searches should be conducted in Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas to locate any divorce decree between 1995 and 2001.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right shoulder disability was denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating.

The Veteran's hiatal hernia disability has been rated at 10 percent since March 1, 2001. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic code.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral foot disorder is being remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for spinal cord damage with partial loss of use of legs and balance difficulty is being remanded due to the need for a supplemental opinion regarding whether his current condition is related to military service.

The Board found that the Veteran's low back disorder did not manifest during service or within one year of separation, and was not otherwise related to active service. The right wrist disability is presumed to have existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service.

The Board has ordered additional development to obtain service treatment records, verify National Guard and reserve service periods, and secure private medical records from Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center prior to 1997. The appeal is remanded for further adjudication.

The Veteran's initial disability rating for residuals of a gunshot wound to the right thigh has been denied as his condition does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.