Other conditions decisions — 2018

The Board denied service connection for a diverticular disease, finding that the Veteran's current condition was not caused or aggravated by his military service and did not have a direct link to Agent Orange exposure. The Board also found no evidence of causation from service-connected PTSD and/or irritable bowel syndrome.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection and TDIU, as well as his request to extend a temporary total disability rating. The issues include chest wall disability and left sternoclavicular osteomyelitis and septic arthritis.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred from August 6, 2013 to August 10, 2013 at Lake Hospital System are granted as the treatment was rendered in a medical emergency and VA facilities were not feasibly available.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and the appellant did not provide evidence of an original or reopened claim for VA compensation at the time of his death. The appeal is denied as there are no legal grounds to award nonservice-connected burial benefits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions have been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran's current diagnosis of Crohn's disease was incurred during his active service, and the Board granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's appeal is denied as he did not meet the criteria for additional vocational rehabilitation benefits under Chapter 31, Title 38 of the United States Code.

The Veteran's claim for medical reimbursement is remanded to clarify his non-VA health coverage and the extent of any third-party reimbursement attempts.

The Veteran's bladder disability is caused by his service-connected prostate cancer status post prostatectomy. The skin disorder claim requires a VA examination to determine if it is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by the service-connected prostate cancer.

The Board vacated the May 14, 2018 decision that granted service connection for cause of death due to Agent Orange exposure because the appellant died before the decision was issued. The appeal is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran died in November 2013 and the appellant filed a claim for burial benefits within two years of his death. The VA determined that there was no legal basis to award burial benefits as the Veteran did not meet any of the criteria for such benefits, including being discharged from service due to a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient examination findings and need for updated VA treatment records.

The decision is remanded due to the lack of financial documentation and income information for 2015, which was used to determine if the Veteran's income exceeded the Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR).

The Veteran's gastritis is found to have originated during service and has continued since then, granting service connection for the condition.

The Veteran's service-connected degenerative joint disease of the left and right knees was denied initial compensable evaluations prior to December 5, 2013.

The Board denied service connection for cataracts as a result of exposure to ionizing radiation because the evidence did not show that the Veteran's current condition was caused by in-service exposure, and the preponderance of the evidence is against the claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right elbow disability is caused by his service-connected right shoulder disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has remanded the claims for an increased rating and extraschedular consideration due to incomplete examinations and failure to address certain issues in the prior decision.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination reports and the need for additional VA examinations. The Veteran's service-connected left epididymitis is associated with urinary incontinence, but the relationship between these conditions needs further clarification.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's emergency medical treatment at Orlando Regional Medical Center on June 19, 2012 was for a condition of such nature that a prudent layperson would have reasonably expected delay in obtaining care to be hazardous. The nearest VA facility was not feasibly available and an attempt to use it beforehand would not have been considered reasonable by a prudent layperson. Therefore, payment or reimbursement is granted.