Other conditions decisions — 2015

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Shands Jacksonville Medical Center were denied as the services did not meet the criteria for emergency treatment and VA facilities were reasonably available.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bilateral hip disabilities are not related to his service, and thus denies the claims for service connection.

The Veteran is granted service connection for chronic myalgia with a noncompensable rating effective March 19, 2007. The claim for an initial compensable rating prior to June 27, 2012 and a rating in excess of 10 percent from that date remains denied.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses was denied as he is not service-connected and did not meet the eligibility criteria under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1725.

The Veteran's air ambulance transport claim is being remanded due to the appellant failing to appear at the scheduled hearing. The appeal involves payment for a medical service provided on August 11, 2010.

The Board finds that the Veteran's son D. became permanently incapable of self-support prior to his 18th birthday due to mental illness, and grants recognition as a 'helpless child'.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security Administration records and treatment records from VA medical centers. The effective date of November 29, 1995, for service connection and a disability rating for the lumbar spine will be implemented.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current diagnosis of herpes is related to his in-service diagnosis, and thus service connection for herpes is granted.

The appellant is seeking a higher rate of DIC benefits, but the Board finds that she is not entitled to such as there is no basis in the law for granting her claim.

The Board has determined that the VA examination report is inadequate and requires additional development, including a new addendum opinion by the December 2013/September 2014 examiner to address the etiology of the Veteran's hernia. The case will be returned for further action.

The Veteran's TMJ disability is currently rated at 10 percent, and the evidence does not show that her inter-incisal range of motion or lateral excursion has been limited to a degree warranting a higher rating.

The Veteran's chronic prostatitis was rated at 40 percent prior to February 4, 2013 and at 60 percent since then. The claim for TDIU benefits has been granted effective from the date of his claim.

The Board is requesting clarification from the VA examiner regarding whether the cause of the Veteran's death, including his stroke and blood clot, was related to service or service-connected disabilities. The appellant must provide additional evidence if needed.

The Board has ordered additional development to be completed, including obtaining medical records from UPMC Northwest Medical Center in Oil City, PA. The claim will then be readjudicated and the appellant will have an opportunity to respond.

The Board found that the termination of DEA benefits for the period from April 8, 2010 through May 26, 2010 was not proper due to insufficient evidence supporting the claim and concluded in favor of the appellant.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's chronic recurrent cysts or abscesses (skin disability) were manifested during service and are etiologically related to service, granting the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's application for an extension of her delimiting date for Montgomery GI Bill benefits was granted as she was prevented from initiating or completing a chosen program of education due to physical disabilities resulting from a car accident.

The Veteran's narcolepsy was rated at 10 percent prior to May 2, 2007 and at 80 percent thereafter. The Board found that a rating in excess of 40 percent from May 2, 2007 to August 10, 2010 is warranted based on the Veteran's symptoms, but not for any period prior to or after this date.

The Veteran's service-connected duodenal diverticulitis was rated at 30 percent prior to December 12, 2011. Service connection for gastritis and ulcers were also granted as secondary to the service-connected duodenal diverticulum or hemorrhoids.

The Veteran's thrombocytosis was not shown to have had onset during service, and the condition is unrelated to an injury, disease, or event in service including exposure to herbicides. The Board found that thrombocytosis was less likely related to herbicide exposure.