Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Board cannot make a fully-informed decision on the service connection for inguinal hernia, secondary to residuals of service-connected prostatectomy, as clarification needs to be provided with respect to medical opinions. The issues are inextricably intertwined and need to be remanded.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private hospital on December 19, 2013 are granted because the care was deemed necessary due to an emergency condition manifesting severe symptoms that would have been hazardous if delayed.

The Veteran's service is not considered qualifying active duty for purposes of the Post 9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) educational benefits, and thus he is denied eligibility.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death, and no jurisdiction remains for further action.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a back injury, finding that there was no evidence of an in-service injury or disease and that the current condition did not meet the criteria for direct service connection.

The Veteran's claim for additional education benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill program is denied as he has already used a total of 39 months and 6 days of educational assistance, leaving him with only 8 months and 24 days available.

The Veteran's memory loss is considered to be due to an undiagnosed illness or a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness related to his service in the Persian Gulf War. The Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point from February 22, 2015 through February 28, 2015 are granted as the evidence is in equipoise regarding whether his condition was stabilized for transfer to a VA facility.

The petition to reopen the previously denied claim for entitlement to service connection for a low back disorder is granted. The claims of service connection for left and right hip disorders are also remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.

The Board has granted the claim for recognition of M.N.M. as the Veteran's dependent child, based on the permanent guardianship established by a court order.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to incomplete records, specifically those from the Social Security Administration. The VA is required to obtain these records and review the claims.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred during his hospitalizations at St. Cloud Hospital from December 27, 2010 through January 5, 2011 and from January 12, 2011 through January 18, 2011 are now covered by VA.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right foot neuralgia, which is related to his in-service injury, meets the criteria for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for pulmonary fibrosis, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to his military service or exposure to asbestos. The Board noted that while the Veteran had a history of smoking tobacco, which is associated with pulmonary fibrosis, there was no in-service diagnosis or treatment for respiratory issues and the VA examiner found it less likely than not that the Veteran's current condition was related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for urachal cyst residuals has been remanded due to the need for a VA examination and proper notification of his representative.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding whether the appellant is a surviving spouse and for a medical opinion on whether the Veteran's glioblastoma multiforme was related to service, including herbicide exposure.

The Veteran's death was not recognized as a VA death benefit due to the appellant not being his surviving spouse. The Board found that there was no evidence of a common law marriage between the Veteran and the appellant.

The Veteran's left hand disability is being remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his symptoms, and because this could impact his TDIU claim.

The Board has granted service connection for back injury, left hand condition (including Raynaud's disease), and right hand condition (including Raynaud's disease). The issue of limitation of left wrist motion was dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal.

The Veteran's skin cancer, including squamous and basal cell carcinomas, is related to his in-service sun exposure. The Board finds that the preponderance of evidence indicates service connection for these conditions.