Other conditions decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the case due to lack of substantial compliance with previous remand directives, specifically regarding a VA examination for the Veteran's respiratory illness allegedly related to Camp Lejeune exposure.

The Veteran's right and left hip disabilities are granted as secondary to her service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's paresthesias of the toes in both lower extremities are remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at private hospitals on December 6, 2015 to December 7, 2015 was denied because he did not receive VA healthcare within the required 24-month period prior to his treatment.

The Board denied the claim for service connection of a right elbow disability, finding that the evidence clearly and unmistakably established that the condition pre-existed active duty and was not aggravated during such service.

The Veteran's cause of death, Alzheimer's disease, is found to be related to his service-connected benign osteoma and craniectomy. However, the claim for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 is denied as the Veteran was not continuously rated totally disabled for a period of at least 10 years immediately preceding death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a hysterectomy disability, secondary to her service-connected left ovary removal disability is granted. The Veteran's appeal for a temporary total disability rating for the period surrounding her hysterectomy surgery is dismissed.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal, and therefore has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding the etiology of Korsakoff Syndrome and its relationship to service-connected conditions. The issues of TDIU and SMP are also being remanded as they may be affected by the outcome of the service connection issue.

The Board has decided to remand the issue of service connection for eye disability due to issues with scheduling and accommodating the Veteran's needs. The case is sent back for a VA examination.

The Veteran's cause of death, reactive airway disease and pulmonary fibrosis, is being remanded for further development to determine if the conditions are related to service or secondary to his service-connected sinusitis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, finding no current diagnosis of such and insufficient evidence linking any in-service events to present symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of unauthorized non-VA medical care received at Mease Dunedin Hospital from March 25, 2015 to March 27, 2015 is granted as the treatment was provided in a medical emergency and VA facilities were not feasibly available.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for the claims of service connection for a chronic condition to account for urinary frequency, left foot heel spurs, and right foot bone spurs.

The appeal was dismissed due to the appellant's death, and no final decision can be made.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of verification for periods of active duty, ACDUTRA, or INACDUTRA. The Veteran needs to provide evidence and a VA examination is required if his loss of teeth occurred during these periods.

The Board has vacated its previous decision and remanded the claims for service connection for a neurocognitive disorder as secondary to service-connected disabilities, including alcohol abuse, and for TDIU. The case is being remanded due to the appellant's representative requesting an extension of time to obtain additional evidence.

The appeal was dismissed due to the appellant's death during the pendency of the case.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including scheduling a VA examination to determine the current nature and severity of the Veteran's service-connected right pinky disability and whether his right- and/or left-hand osteoarthritis is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected residuals of right-hand, fifth metacarpal fracture.

The Veteran's waiver request of recovery of overpayment of VA disability compensation benefits in the amount of $1,633.08 is denied due to failure to repay the debt and lack of fault on his part.

The Veteran's gastrointestinal disorder is remanded for a VA examination to determine its relationship to service, including exposure to herbicide agents and toxins.