Other conditions Board decisions

The Board denied the appellant's request to reopen his claim for basic eligibility for VA death benefits, finding that no new and material evidence had been received.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and consideration on an extraschedular basis under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b). The claim will be adjudicated again after the necessary steps are taken.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability was rated at 10 percent prior to January 11, 2012. The Board finds that the evidence does not support a higher rating for this period.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain his SSA records and for another VA examination. The TDIU issue will also be addressed.

The Board denied a request for an effective date earlier than July 1, 2008, for the award of dependency benefits for the Veteran's spouse. The decision stated that the earliest effective date was July 1, 2008, following VA's receipt of proper marriage information on June 30, 2008.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and providing an addendum opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's recurrent UTIs and her service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for herpes simplex encephalitis is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and updated medical records.

The Veteran's narcolepsy has been rated at 20 percent, but he contends that he is entitled to a higher rating. The Board found the evidence consistent with an 80 percent rating and granted this rating.

The Veteran's chronic nonbacterial prostatitis is rated at a 40 percent disability rating, effective from April 5, 2007.

The Veteran is seeking an increase in the rate of Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill) education benefits, which are based on his active duty service after September 10, 2001. The RO previously determined that his creditable active duty service totaled 354 days, warranting a 50 percent rate of payment. However, the Veteran claims he has additional creditable service from March to September 2009 which was not considered by VA.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for narcolepsy, which was already service-connected at that rate.

The Veteran's cognitive disability manifested by short term memory loss is reasonably shown to be related to exposure to contaminated water in service at Camp Lejeune, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for choroideremia has been withdrawn, effectively dismissing the case.

The Board has determined that the appellant's service from May 1972 to March 1973 resulted in an other than honorable discharge due to willful and persistent misconduct, which is a bar to VA benefits.

The Veteran's request for an extension of the delimiting date for his Chapter 30 educational benefits was denied as it was not received within one year from the date on which he was no longer prevented from initiating a program of education due to physical or mental disability.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a private facility on June 8, 2011 were denied as VA facilities were feasibly available and the treatment was not for an emergency condition.

The Veteran's loss of teeth is not considered a service-connected disability for VA compensation purposes due to poor oral hygiene, and the Board finds no evidence linking his dental conditions to his service-connected upper lip neurological problem.

The Veteran's service-connected right middle finger fracture with ankylosis was initially rated at 10 percent, but a June 2007 rating decision increased the rating to 20 percent effective March 15, 2007. The Board has determined that a higher rating is warranted as of April 29, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain a new VA examination and for further development of the record. The issue remains whether he should be granted an initial compensable evaluation for his service-connected left middle finger disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for cocaine addiction, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct link between his inservice treatment and his current addiction.