Other conditions decisions — 2015

The Veteran's VA compensation benefits are denied for apportionment to the appellant due to the appellant and the Veteran living separately but not meeting the criteria for hardship or inability of the Veteran to reasonably discharge his responsibility for support.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a Travel Board hearing. The issues of entitlement to an earlier effective date for TDIU and whether there was CUE in the August 1974 rating decision regarding bilateral hearing loss are pending.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and consideration of the issue regarding an initial disability rating for service-connected adjustment disorder.

The Board found that the Veteran's pulmonary alveolar proteinosis was not incurred or aggravated as a result of active service and is not shown to have developed as a result of an established event, injury, or disease during active service.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a VA examination to determine the etiology of his bilateral eye disability and any allergic processes present in his eyes. The claim will be re-adjudicated following this development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical records, provide VCAA notice, and schedule VA examinations for respiratory and sleep disorders.

The Veteran's claim is being remanded for further examination and clarification of the relationship between his service-connected chronic lesion of the left palm and his trigger finger and tenosynitis conditions. The case will be reconsidered after this additional development.

The RO denied service connection for the Veteran's claimed left hamstring disorder, finding no current disability.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence was submitted to reopen the claim for service connection of bilateral varicose veins. The Veteran's current condition is found to be related to his military service.

The case is being remanded for scheduling a Travel Board Hearing with the Appellant, as notification of the hearing was sent to the Veteran who has since passed away. The Appellant will be given an opportunity to choose between a local hearing or a video hearing.

The Board has reopened the claim of entitlement to service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to new and material evidence submitted since the August 2006 rating decision. The case is now remanded for further development, including obtaining VA outpatient records from 1986 through 1994, referring the claims file to a board-certified cardiovascular specialist for an opinion on whether service-connected disability contributed substantially or materially to cause of death, and ensuring that all evidence is compliant with this remand.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right hand disorder with tremors was denied as there is no competent, credible and probative evidence indicating the Veteran currently has this condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current right hand disability and therefore, service connection for this condition cannot be granted.

The Veteran's respiratory disability is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and service treatment records from his periods of active duty. The examiner will determine if the condition was incurred during service or due to exposure to environmental toxins.

The Veteran's heart disability, resulting from VA treatment in April and May 2003, is found to be caused by an event not reasonably foreseeable. Therefore, the claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a heart disability is granted.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn, and the Board dismissed his case due to a statement indicating that his appeal had been satisfied in full.

The Veteran's schizoaffective disorder was rated at 50 percent prior to May 14, 2012. The Board found that the disability more nearly approximated a 70 percent rating due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board found that the residuals of left breast lumpectomy do not more nearly approximate significant alteration in size and form, thus denying a higher initial rating.

The Board has determined that the appellant's income exceeded the applicable statutory levels for the annualized period in which the income was received since April 1, 2013. Therefore, she is not legally entitled to VA death pension benefits.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses for treatment at Lakeland Regional Medical Center on February 15, 2013 and Elkhart General Hospital from February 15 to February 16, 2013 are approved due to the nature of his symptoms (chest pain radiating into his left arm and body tremors) being severe enough that a prudent layperson would have expected immediate medical attention. Treatment at VA facilities was not feasibly available on these dates.