Other conditions decisions — 2015

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current back disability is not related to his military service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private facility due to abdominal pain was denied as the treatment did not meet the criteria for emergency services under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1725.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to address the nature of any additional disability resulting from the January 2008 VA surgery and whether it was caused by negligence or fault. The claim for service connection for residuals of ear infections will also be readjudicated.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a genital skin disorder, including genital warts or residuals thereof, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current spine pathology, including residuals of a compression fracture of T-9 vertebra, is at least as likely as not related to service. The claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed conditions and their relationship to service-connected disabilities. The claims will be reconsidered based on all additional evidence.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's testicle disorder and left foot disorder. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has remanded the case due to the failure to issue a Statement of the Case (SOC) for the annual clothing allowance claim. The Veteran must be provided with an SOC and given the opportunity to respond.

The Board denied the appellant's claim to reopen a previous denial of service connection for the Veteran's cause of death. The new evidence submitted since the prior denial is not considered material and does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for additional compensation for a dependent child based on school attendance was denied as the evidence submitted by the Veteran did not meet the one-year deadline following his daughter's 18th birthday.

The Veteran is granted service connection for hypertension and initial noncompensable ratings for left and right foot hallux valgus.,Service connection was established for hypertension, but no compensable rating has been assigned for the bilateral hallux valgus.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of gout of both feet.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected fracture of the left zygomatic arch.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and an opinion regarding his respiratory disorder. The Board will consider whether service connection can be granted based on presumed exposure or other theories.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development to obtain information about the Veteran's marital status and divorce decrees from his first marriages.

The Veteran's estate is entitled to withheld benefits due and payable, as per the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 5502(d).

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to determine the cause of the Veteran's death and whether it was related to his service, including exposure to herbicides. The case is being remanded for further development.

The appellant is eligible for improved death pension benefits because she had no countable income during the period on appeal.

The appellant's petition to revoke the forfeiture of her rights to VA benefits (except insurance benefits) under 38 U.S.C.A. § 6103(a) was denied by the AOJ in April 2008, and she withdrew her appeal prior to a Board decision.

The Veteran's death was service connected, and the appellant received $2,000 in burial benefits. There is no legal basis for additional burial payments.