Other conditions decisions — 2020

The Veteran's emergency visit to the Winter Haven Hospital on November 20, 2016 was considered an urgent medical condition due to infection and swelling of a laceration site. The nearest VA facilities were not feasibly available during his emergency, so payment for the treatment at WHH is granted.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an increased rating for her acquired psychiatric disorder and service connection for sleep apnea, finding that a new VA examination is needed due to the Veteran's testimony indicating her condition may have worsened since her last examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection as his claimed disability is not caused or aggravated by his military service, and there is no nexus between his current impairment of concentration and memory and his active duty.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for death pension benefits, finding that the formal application was not received by VA within one year of the intent to file a claim.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's sinus condition may be related to Agent Orange exposure, but needs further examination and opinion to determine if it is also related to asbestos exposure. The case is being sent back for additional development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private hospital in Sarasota, Florida on January 9, 2014 due to left shoulder pain from polymyalgia rheumatica.

The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his ischemic congestive cardiomyopathy was at least in part due to exposure to herbicide agents during his service in Thailand.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for myelodysplastic syndrome, also claimed as leukemia, due to radiation exposure because no new and material evidence was received within one year of the October 2012 rating decision.

The case is being remanded for an addendum VA examination to address the relationship between the Veteran's pituitary adenoma and his service-connected conditions, including TBI, traumatic left occipital headaches, mild cerebellar dysfunction, hearing loss, and PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for the cause of his death, finding that he did not have a service-connected disability at the time of his death and that his ACD was not related to his military service.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of service connection for bilateral shin splints should be remanded due to an inadequate VA examination.

The Veteran's death was not caused by any aspect of his military service, including exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for ratings in excess of 10 percent for her right and left hallux valgus, finding that she is already receiving the maximum schedular rating available under Diagnostic Code (DC) 5280.

The appeal for service connection of pancreatic cancer is dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Veteran had a total disability rating for eight years prior to his death, qualifying the surviving spouse for an increased DIC benefit rate. The decision grants this increase.

The Veteran's claim for an extension of the delimiting date beyond May 23, 2019 for educational assistance benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill is denied as there is no legal basis to grant the claim.

The Board has granted an initial 50 percent disability rating for service-connected panic disorder, finding that the Veteran's symptoms meet the criteria for this rating. The appeal is based on a direct service connection and not due to exposure to any specific hazard.

The Board has determined that the Veteran sustained an inguinal hernia in service and is therefore granted service connection for residuals of the hernia repair.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional development and examination, including obtaining private medical records and a new VA examination.

The Veteran's right lung nodule is remanded for further evaluation, including obtaining private treatment records and a VA examination to determine the likely etiology of his condition.