Other conditions decisions — 2020

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private hospital on July 9, 2017 is granted as the appeal is considered under criteria for determining entitlement under the Veterans Millennium Healthcare and Benefits Act (Act), which includes being an active Department health-care participant.

The Veteran died during the appeal process, and therefore, the Board has no jurisdiction to decide his claims.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for a higher rating for peptic ulcer due to new evidence indicating worsening symptoms since the last examination.

The Board has granted service connection for pancreatic cancer, colon cancer, small bowel cancer, and spleen cancer due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The decision is based on the Veteran's reports of in-service exposure to harsh conditions including unclean drinking water.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to reopen his finally disallowed claim of service connection for bilateral elbow condition, but has remanded the case for further development and an opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's claimed condition.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his right inguinal hernia was denied as there was no evidence of a current hernia during the appeal period. The Board also remanded the case to consider whether an extraschedular evaluation is warranted due to the Veteran's residual inguinodynia.

The Veteran's daughter has not established that she was permanently incapable of self-support before the age of 18, and her claims for service connection for the cause of the Veteran’s death and DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 are remanded.

The Board has granted an effective date of July 2, 2014 for adding the Veteran's spouse as a dependent. The Veteran provided all necessary information within one year of notification and his current marriage was not contested.

The Board found that the appellant's discharge from service was due to willful and persistent misconduct, not a minor offense. As such, his character of service is considered dishonorable, which bars him from receiving VA benefits.

The Board has remanded the appeal for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and considering whether referral for extraschedular ratings is warranted. The issues on appeal include increased ratings for hallux rigidus of both great toes and a temporary total disability rating based on convalescence.

The Board denied service connection for prostate enlargement and bladder impairment, finding no evidence of a direct relationship to service or any other basis for establishing service connection.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the appellant's standing as a creditor and her ability to provide itemized statements for the credit card debts incurred by the Veteran.

The Board has decided that the claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Lutz, Florida is remanded due to incomplete development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left thumb disorder, finding that there is no evidence of continuity of symptoms since service and no competent medical opinion linking his current condition to service.

The Board has remanded the claim for a skin disability due to herbicide agent exposure, as it was not fully developed in the previous remand.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Orthopedics of Jackson Hole on January 17, 2017, and February 21, 2017 is denied. The issue of payment or reimbursement for unauthorized medical expenses incurred during non-VA medical services at Orthopedics of Jackson Hole on April 4, 2017 has not been addressed in the Statement of the Case (SOC).

The Veteran's service-connected cold injury disabilities to his hands and feet are currently rated at 20 percent each, but the Board finds no higher rating is warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of August 19, 2014, for his non-service-connected pension benefits. The decision stated that the Veteran did not file a formal application within one year after submitting an informal claim in August 2012.

The Veteran's cause of death was determined to be due to atherosclerotic vascular disease, which is service-connected. The Board found that this condition contributed substantially or materially to the Veteran's death and granted service connection for the cause of his death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Cumberland Medical Center on February 9, 2008 due to lack of authorization and because there was no emergency condition requiring immediate treatment.