Other conditions Board decisions

The Veteran's request for additional educational assistance benefits under Chapter 33 was granted, as she had exhausted her entitlement under Chapter 30 and submitted an irrevocable election to receive benefits under Chapter 33.

The Veteran's disability rating for psychoneurosis, depressive neurosis was reduced from 50% to 10%, effective June 1, 2011. The Board found that the reduction was improper and restored the original 50% rating.

The Veteran's appeal does not involve service connection for a right arm disorder, as the issue is about an increased rating for her right tibia stress fractures. The Board found that she did not meet the criteria for an increased rating and denied both issues.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for a waiver of overpayment of nonservice-connected pension benefits, finding that the creation of the overpayment was valid and that recovery would be against equity and good conscience.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension (SMP) by reason of the need for regular aid and attendance of another person or being housebound was denied as he does not meet the criteria for SMP based on his visual acuity, mental/physical incapacity to be in a nursing home, or inability to feed himself, dress himself, or attend to his daily needs.

The Board has remanded the case for further action due to the appellant's failure to appear at a scheduled hearing. The claim will be handled in an expeditious manner.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development due to incomplete service records. The appellant's claim for VA home loan benefits will be reconsidered after obtaining all relevant personnel records.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including scheduling a hearing at the RO. The primary issue is whether Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma should be service connected as secondary to exposure to herbicides.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses for a crush injury to the right hand incurred on September 15, 2010 are denied as there is no evidence of service connection and the condition was stable by the time he arrived at the hospital.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and there is no evidence of herbicide exposure. The cause of death listed on his death certificate was squamous cell carcinoma, which the VA specialist could not definitively link to military service or presumed Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has found that the Veteran does not have a gastrointestinal disorder that is related to military service, and thus his claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran received emergency treatment for non-service-connected medical conditions at a private hospital. The VA Medical Center was not feasibly available, and the ambulance personnel determined that the nearest appropriate level of care was at this private hospital. As such, the criteria for payment were met.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for generalized joint and muscle pain and fatigue, to include as due to an undiagnosed illness and/or secondary to his service-connected IBS, is being remanded for additional development.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a gunshot wound to the left thigh during service and no current disability related to such an injury. The claim for service connection for residuals of a gunshot wound to the left thigh is denied.

The Veteran's residuals of a crush injury to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd digits of the left hand are not shown to warrant a compensable rating.

The Veteran's left thumb disability, which resulted in a healed fracture, is currently rated at 10 percent disabling. The VA determined that the condition does not warrant an increased rating as it causes pain and limited motion without significant additional functional loss.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing service treatment records and a need for an addendum medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's throat cancer and his in-service duties as a firefighter.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's memory loss and impaired concentration are secondary to her service-connected fibromyalgia, thus granting service connection for these conditions.

The Board finds that the Veteran's gallbladder removal and cholecystitis are not related to his military service, including ionizing radiation exposure.

The Board has granted service connection for the post-operative residuals of a ventral or umbilical hernia, finding that it is at least as likely as not due to an injury during active service.