Other conditions decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 30 percent for insomnia was denied. The claims for the cervical and lumbar spine disabilities were remanded.

The Veteran's rating for aphakia, surgical, left eye is denied as the disability results in blindness of the left eye having only light perception.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a liver condition is being remanded as there is insufficient evidence to determine if the current diagnosis is related to his active service. A VA examination is needed to assess the nature and etiology of his liver condition.

The Veteran's claims for reimbursement of unauthorized medical treatment received at UPMC East have been remanded due to unclear documentation regarding the denial of ancillary charges and the reason for denying transfer from UPMC East to a VA facility.

The Veteran's service-connected pustular eruption of feet and hands is rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to its limited impact on his body.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a dental disability for VA compensation benefits is denied as there is no evidence of a compensable dental disorder.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for accrued benefits as he is not considered a child or dependent relative of the Veteran, and there are no expenses related to last sickness and burial for which reimbursement can be made.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for ulcers was reopened due to new and material evidence. The appeal is granted as the Veteran has a stomach condition that may be related to his in-service symptoms, but further examination is needed to determine if it is secondary to his PTSD.

The Veteran's service connection claim for discoid lupus is being remanded due to potential herbicide exposure in Okinawa, Japan. The VA will seek additional medical records and determine if the Veteran was exposed to Agent Orange during her service.

The Veteran's loss of teeth numbers 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 22, 23, 24, and 25 due to trauma is rated as noncompensable under the current rating criteria. The Board found that a higher rating was not warranted because the lost masticatory surface could be restored by suitable prosthesis.

The Veteran's keloid scar conditions are being remanded for further evaluation due to the need for updated medical evidence and consideration of functional loss.

The Veteran's fibroids with dysmenorrhea and menorrhagia are rated at a 10 percent evaluation because the prescribed medication is needed on a regular monthly basis to control severe pain.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for limitation of extension of the thigh due to degenerative joint disease of the left hip associated with degenerative joint disease, left hip is denied as he is already receiving the maximum allowable rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete records and for further action on the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. No jurisdiction remains for the merits of these claims.

The Veteran's cause of death, metastatic cholangiocarcinoma, was not caused by or aggravated by his military service. The Board found no evidence linking the cancer to service and ruled against the claim for service connection.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and the appellant did not have a pending claim for VA benefits at the time of his death. The appeal is denied as there are no legal grounds to award burial benefits.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 due to gynecomastia resulting from VA treatment of his service-connected schizophrenia is remanded for additional development.

The claim for death pension benefits is denied because the appellant's income exceeded the maximum annual pension rate. The claim for burial benefits is also denied as there was no service-connected disability at the time of the Veteran's death and the criteria for nonservice-connected burial benefits are not met.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected condition, and the appellant did not have any pending claims for VA compensation or pension benefits at the time of her husband's death. Therefore, burial benefits were denied.