Other conditions decisions — 2018

The Board has ordered that the validity and amount of the overpayment be determined, and then the Veteran's waiver request will be reconsidered. The case is being sent back to the RO for these actions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's visual impairment, diagnosed as myopia, did not worsen due to her in-service LASIK eye surgery and is therefore not service-connected.

The Board denied the claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of right lower extremity varicose veins, finding that the earliest possible effective date is July 8, 2010.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of medical transportation expenses incurred on January 19, 2018 was denied as none of the eligibility requirements under VA regulations were met.

The Veteran's service-connected gunshot wound residuals are found to have caused or contributed substantially to his death from pulmonary fibrosis, resolving in favor of the claimant.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection are inextricably intertwined and requires additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records, radiation dose information from the relevant service department, and a VA examination to determine if his sleep apnea is related to military service.

The Veteran's service connection claim for chronic lymphocytic leukemia is granted due to exposure at Camp Lejeune, which qualifies under the presumptive provisions.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on need for regular aid and attendance or being permanently housebound was denied because the evidence did not show he needed such assistance due to a service-connected disability.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inconsistencies in the Veteran's reported income, and further investigation is needed.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to non-compliance with previous directives and issues related to the validity of a debt for nonservice-connected pension benefits.

The Veteran's mitral valve prolapse was rated at 30% prior to December 14, 2016. From December 14, 2016, a 60% rating is granted for the cardiac disability. A 100% rating is granted from September 12, 2017, due to an implantable cardiac pacemaker. The Veteran's condition was rated at 30% beginning November 12, 2017.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of medical expenses incurred during non-VA medical treatment at Arroyo Grande Community Hospital from October 30-31, 2012. The decision is based on prior authorization provided by a VA nurse practitioner.

The Board has previously remanded the issue multiple times due to issues with correspondence. The case is being remanded again for the RO to ensure proper compliance with previous directives and to issue a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC).

The Board denied the reopening of a claim finding that the appellant's character of discharge was a bar to VA compensation benefits, as new and material evidence did not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim.

The Veteran's lung disorder was not incurred in service and is not presumed to have been caused by exposure to herbicides or ionizing radiation. The Board found no evidence of service in Vietnam, no credible indication of herbicide exposure, and no documentation of ionizing radiation exposure.

The Board has reopened the claim for service connection for a skin disease due to new evidence showing current diagnosis of palmoplantar pustulosis. However, further medical opinion is needed as the January 2014 VA examiner's opinion regarding etiology was inadequate.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was exposed to herbicides during service at U-Tapao Royal Thai Air Force Base and is entitled to presumptive service connection for any disease associated with such exposure. However, hypertension is not a condition presumed to be related to herbicide exposure. The case is remanded for further development including obtaining medical opinions on the relationship between the Veteran's conditions and his service.

The Board has granted a 10 percent disability rating for bilateral heel spurs, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability manifested by chest pain and upset stomach, which was treated in service. Therefore, service connection is denied.