Other conditions Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including verifying federalized service and obtaining a VA examination to determine if any current right arm disability is related to the injury sustained in July 1997.

The Board found that the Veteran's current back condition is not related to his service, specifically due to a motor vehicle accident in 1967 where he was a passenger. The injuries were determined to be the result of his own misconduct and therefore not incurred in the line of duty.

The Veteran's spouse is not recognized as his surviving spouse for VA purposes, including DIC and death pension benefits due to the fact that they were legally divorced at the time of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's application for additional educational assistance under the Post-9/11 GI Bill was denied as he is only eligible for 2 months and 18 days of benefits due to his irrevocable election to receive Chapter 33 benefits in lieu of Chapter 30.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for dental disability, finding that his loss of teeth was not due to combat or disease such as osteomyelitis and could be restored by prosthesis. The claim is denied as a matter of law.

The Veteran's tongue cancer is related to his in-service herbicide exposure and service connection for the condition has been granted.

The appellant's right shoulder disabilities have been rated at 20 percent since prior to January 15, 2014.,The appellant's left shoulder disabilities have also been rated at 20 percent since prior to January 15, 2014.,No higher evaluations are warranted for the right and left shoulders after January 15, 2014 based on current evidence of record.,There is no evidence supporting a higher evaluation for either shoulder after January 15, 2014.

The Veteran's mycosis fungoides, cutaneous T-cell lymphoma is currently rated at 10 percent and the evidence does not support a higher rating.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left hip disability does not warrant a rating in excess of 10 percent, as it does not meet the criteria for higher ratings based on range of motion or other symptoms. The claim is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for residuals of otitis media and a rating higher than 10 percent for residuals of a right sternoclavicular injury, finding that there was no evidence of current disability or symptomatology to warrant these ratings.

The Veteran's service-connected injury to muscle group XIX associated with a stab wound of the left abdomen is currently rated at 10 percent, and his scar is also rated at 10 percent. The Board finds that neither condition warrants an increase in rating.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development of her VA treatment records and to consider the issues on appeal.

The Board finds that the Veteran's current heart conditions, including atrial fibrillation and chest pain, are not related to her service. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's atrial fibrillation is less likely than not attributable to the chest pain of unknown etiology during service.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted a TDIU.

The appellant is not eligible for DIC or non-service-connected death pension as the surviving spouse of the Veteran due to her marriage occurring more than 15 years after his service and without meeting other eligibility criteria.

The Veteran's calcaneal spurs of the right heel have been rated as noncompensable and no higher rating is warranted based on the current evidence.

The Veteran's wife/appellant sought reimbursement for unauthorized non-VA medical expenses incurred at the Nebraska Medical Center during his hospitalization. The VA denied the claim as prior authorization was not obtained and no emergency care existed, nor did the treatment address a service-connected condition or nonservice-connected disability associated with a service-connected condition.

The Board has determined that the appellant is not eligible for VA benefits as a surviving dependent of the Veteran due to his status as the Veteran's brother, and thus not meeting the legal requirements for eligibility.