Other conditions decisions — 2021

The Board has remanded the claims for payment or reimbursement of medical services provided by the appellant on December 2, 2019, and December 10, 2019. The missing decisions are to be associated with the Veteran's file.

Your appeal has been dismissed because the VA authorized payment for the medical expenses you incurred at Prime Healthcare Foundation - Southern Regional Medical Center on December 28, 2016.

The Board has determined that the Appellant's claim for survivor's pension benefits, including special monthly pension, needs to be remanded due to an error in processing her claims file and reliance on misfiled records. The decision will be reconsidered with a complete and accurate record.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for payment of non-VA medical services provided on December 2, 2019 is not properly addressed by the AOJ and requires further action.

The Board has remanded two claims for payment of non-VA emergency medical services provided to the Veteran. The first claim involves services from February 18, 2019 to February 21, 2019 and the second involves a service on January 29, 2019. Both cases require additional efforts by VA to obtain relevant private treatment records.

The Board denied additional dependency benefits for the Veteran's child, L., based on school attendance due to L.'s election to receive DEA benefits under Chapter 35.

The Veteran's VR&E benefits were denied because he did not complete the initial evaluation required for eligibility, and there is no evidence of an employment handicap or serious employment handicap.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding an increased rating for a shrapnel wound to the left forearm, and the Board has dismissed the case as a result.

The Veteran's right hand disability, including a fourth finger fracture, is currently rated as non-compensable. The Board has found the July 2017 rating decision inadequate and remanded for further development, specifically to obtain an updated VA examination that assesses functional loss due to flare-ups.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for a neck disorder due to insufficient medical opinion and need for additional development.

The Board has granted a 10 percent disability rating for the service-connected atrial fibrillation from March 4, 2008. The decision is based on the Veteran's testimony and medical evidence showing that his atrial fibrillation was permanent.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding previously diagnosed skin disorders and their relation to service, including presumed in-service herbicide exposure.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal before the Board could make a decision, so the case is dismissed.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for nonservice-connected survivor's pension benefits due to the appellant's income exceeding the applicable maximum annual pension rate (MAPR).

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for tonsillitis, finding that there was no evidence linking his current condition to service. The VA-contract medical opinion concluded that any current tonsil problems were likely due to post-service conditions such as GERD and obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's back disability was initially rated at 40 percent prior to May 2, 2017. From that date onwards, the rating was increased to 50 percent due to ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine.

The Board has not made a decision on the service connection for dystonia/muscle spasms of the upper extremities, as it is unclear whether this issue was raised or decided. The case is being remanded to obtain an addendum opinion from the appropriate clinician.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient development and lack of discussion regarding the Veteran's specific interests, aptitudes, and abilities. The AOJ is instructed to obtain all outstanding private and VA treatment records and refer the matter back to the VRC for an addendum report addressing how the Veteran's education and experiences are adequate to obtain employment consistent with his abilities, aptitudes, and interests.

The Veteran's overpayment of VA compensation benefits due to concurrent receipt of drill pay in FY 2016 is being remanded for an accounting and clarification of the amounts paid.

The Board has granted the appellant's request to reopen service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death. The appeal is remanded for further proceedings, including verifying the Veteran's alleged exposure to Agent Orange during his service in Okinawa.