Other conditions decisions — 2015

The Board has remanded the case for a videoconference hearing due to the appellant's request. The appeal will be returned to the AOJ after the hearing.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Capital Regional Medical Center on August 19, 2011 are denied as the Veteran had private insurance coverage and is therefore not eligible for reimbursement under VA regulations.

The Veteran's service connection for a dental disability for compensation purposes is denied as he does not have a compensable dental disability. The issue of an initial higher rating for residuals of squamous cell carcinoma of the left tonsil remains pending.

The Veteran was granted an award of housing benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill for the period from April 30, 2012, through June 24, 2012. The clothing allowance issue is pending and will be addressed in a separate decision.

The Board has granted service connection for vertebrobasilar artery syndrome with presyncope, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to head and cervical spine trauma sustained during service. The issues of severance of service connection for hearing loss of the left ear, entitlement to an initial compensable rating for hearing loss of the right ear, and whether the severance was proper are remanded.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an effective date earlier than December 14, 2005 for service connection and a compensable rating for left varicocele.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's essential thrombocytosis is etiologically related to his service, specifically exposure to toxic fumes while serving as a boiler repair foreman on the USS Hornet. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left little finger disability, manifested by a flexor contracture with degenerative joint disease, is most closely approximated by amputation with metacarpal resection at the proximal interphalangeal joint or proximal thereto. As such, an evaluation of 20 percent has been granted.

The Board has granted a waiver of recovery for the overpayment of Chapter 1606 education benefits, finding that it would be against equity and good conscience to require repayment.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are found to render him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment, and further development is needed to assess his claim for TDIU.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at St. Cloud Hospital from November 22, 2013 to November 23, 2013 are denied as the treatment did not meet the criteria for 'emergency treatment' under VA regulations.

The Veteran's service-connected calluses of the bilateral feet, including a left foot osteotomy, do not meet or nearly approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 10 percent.

The appellant has withdrawn her appeals for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, accrued benefits, and death pension. The Board does not have jurisdiction to review these issues as they are dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Gilbert's syndrome and fatty liver condition are not related to his active duty service, including exposure to paint fumes. The conditions pre-existed service and there is no clear and unmistakable evidence of aggravation during service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected right varicocele, finding that the condition is unrelated to other claimed conditions and has no effect on his usual daily activities.

The Veteran does not have any additional right eye disability that was caused by VA surgery in September 2007.

The Veteran's otitis externa is rated as 10 percent disabling throughout the claims period, which constitutes a full grant of his increased rating claim.

The Board granted service connection for a back condition in July 2007, but the RO assigned an incorrect effective date of October 28, 2002. The decision was revised to assign the correct effective date of May 30, 2001.

The Veteran's actinic keratosis, with a history of basal and squamous cell carcinoma, was rated at 30 percent for the period prior to August 30, 2002. The condition involved extensive lesions on his face, chest, and arms.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability, finding that the Veteran's current condition had its onset during active service and was later aggravated during a period of Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA) in July 1995.