Other conditions decisions — 2018

The Board denied the claim for waiver of a debt of $42,131 incurred due to remarriage and continued receipt of DIC benefits.

The Veteran's pulmonary fibrosis is remanded for further development, including verification of any in-service chemical exposures at Fort McClellan and a VA medical examination to determine the nature and etiology of his condition.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a disability rating in excess of 60 percent for Crohn’s disease, and the Board dismissed the case as a result.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's current right eye disability is related to his in-service injury during a field exercise.

The Veteran's medical expenses for emergency surgery on April 24, 2012, and follow-up treatment on April 30, 2012, at Memorial Health System were granted by the Board of Veterans' Appeals. The surgery was deemed necessary to prevent permanent damage or loss of the left index finger due to an accidental gunshot injury.

The Board has reopened the claim and granted recognition as the Veteran's surviving spouse, finding that the separation was due to the Veteran's misconduct without fault on the part of the Appellant.

The Veteran's service-connected insomnia has worsened and is aggravated by stress and migraines. A new VA examination is needed to assess the current severity of his condition.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the issue of payment or reimbursement for expenses incurred due to non-VA medical care from SHR and associated facilities. As a result, the Board dismissed this issue.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right collar bone fracture, which occurred during his active duty service in 1958, resulted in current residuals including pain and decreased range of motion. The Board found that the Veteran's statements regarding his in-service injury were credible and consistent with VA records indicating a healed fracture deformity and painful decreased range of motion. As such, the Board granted service connection for the right collar bone fracture.

The Board denied the reopening of a claim for service connection for cause of death due to a ruptured thoracic aortic aneurysm, finding that new and material evidence had not been received.

The Veteran's cognitive disorder and organic amnesia disorder due to Traumatic Brain Injury are now rated at 100 percent, effective from the date of the decision. This effectively resolves his claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a disc bulge/disc herniation of the low back due to new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed because the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal, and thus the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of private medical services received at South Florida Baptist Hospital due to the absence of a condition that would have been hazardous if delayed, and no emergency treatment was required.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection, secondary service connection, and DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to outstanding VA treatment records and a need for additional medical opinions.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating prior to March 11, 2016, and a higher than 10 percent rating from that date for service-connected bilateral pterygium has been denied. The Board found no evidence of worsening visual acuity or field loss due to the condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a neck disorder is denied as there was no chronic disease or injury during service, and the symptoms were not continuous since service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's November 2012 statement was ambiguous and intended to delay certification of his appeal. The RO is required to schedule a new VA examination for the Veteran's foot disabilities, including bilateral hammertoes.

The Board denied the Appellant's claims for recognition as a surviving child of the Veteran for purposes of receiving DIC, death pension, and accrued benefits due to her not meeting the eligibility criteria.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's temporomandibular joint dysfunction began during his military service and is related to in-service bruxism and wisdom teeth extractions. As such, the claim for service connection is granted.