Other conditions Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and providing new opinions regarding the Veteran's skin disorder, foot disorders, and lumbar spine disability.

The Veteran's appeal was withdrawn regarding his claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and acid reflux. The claim for an initial compensable rating for residuals of fracture, left little finger, remains denied as the disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.

The Veteran's laptop was stolen from her car, and the Board found that she left it unlocked. As a result, VA denied her claim for replacement under 38 C.F.R. § 21.220.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to the AOJ for additional development, including a VA examination and obtaining outstanding private records. The claim will be adjudicated again after all actions are completed.

The case is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining updated treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current status of the Veteran's non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and cardiac lymphoma.

The Board has determined that the appellant is not the Veteran's surviving spouse for VA purposes due to her obtaining a divorce from the Veteran in February 1999, which occurred after the Veteran's death in March 2006.

The Board has ordered a remand due to the Veteran's failure to appear for a VA examination and incomplete medical records. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected condition, and the claim for nonservice-connected burial benefits was filed more than two years after the burial. Therefore, the appeal is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits from March 1, 1990 through June 30, 1997 due to failure to provide necessary information and because the RO improperly granted retroactive benefits.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the lack of VA medical records showing he was enrolled in the VA health care system within 24 months prior to receiving emergency treatment at CoxHealth South. The claim will be reconsidered based on the entirety of the evidence under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1725.

The Veteran's foot conditions, including bilateral first metatarsophalangeal joint arthritis, bilateral hallux valgus, and left hallux rigidus, are found to be the result of injury incurred during active military service.

The Board has determined that the VA examination and opinion provided in September 2011 were inadequate for adjudicative purposes. The Veteran's statements of shortness of breath since service have not been addressed, nor has the evidence of a diagnosis of tuberculosis in service and its update to histoplasmosis after separation from service.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a compensable dental disability for which service connection can be granted, and thus denies his claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's pulmonary fibrosis and fibrosing interstitial pneumonitis are likely due to his in-service exposure to Agent Orange, and thus service connection is granted.

The Veteran's service-connected shell fragment wound residuals of the right arm with retained foreign body are rated at 30 percent for muscle damage and 10 percent for nerve damage. The Board has determined that a separate rating is warranted based on nerve damage, resulting in an increased rating to 40 percent.

The Board has determined that the appellant's discharge from service was under other than honorable conditions due to willful and persistent misconduct. As a result, his character of discharge serves as a bar to receiving VA benefits.

The Veteran's bilateral patellofemoral degenerative joint disease has been rated at 10 percent since the initial grant of service connection.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred for chest pain, gallstone pancreatitis, and pulmonary embolism were not related to a service-connected disability or a medical emergency. As such, reimbursement is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with depressed mood has been granted a 70 percent evaluation effective from June 23, 2008.

The Veteran's stasis ulcers were found to be aggravated by his service-connected diabetes mellitus, and granted service connection for this condition.,Prior to August 30, 2002, the Veteran's steatomatosis was evaluated at a 10% rating due to symptoms such as exfoliation and occasional itching. From August 30, 2002 onwards, his steatomatosis has been rated at 60%, reflecting more significant skin involvement.