Other conditions Board decisions

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has not been submitted to reopen the Veteran's claim for service connection for right hand middle and index finger injuries with arthritis.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a non-VA medical facility on June 14, 2010 is granted. The Board finds that the criteria for reimbursement have been met and affords the benefit of doubt to the Veteran.

The appellant's claim for an increased monthly rate of DIC for her children is denied as the law does not allow for a higher payment given the existence of a surviving spouse recognized by VA.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's herniated nucleus pulposus, L3, L4, and L5 is not manifested by unfavorable ankylosis of the entire thoracolumbar spine or incapacitating episodes totaling at least six weeks during the past 12 months. Therefore, a higher rating is denied.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by pain and limited motion, was found to warrant a 30 percent evaluation from February 18, 2013. Prior to this date, the disability did not meet criteria for higher ratings.

The Board has granted service connection for an ingrown fungal nail of the left great toe, finding that the evidence is at least in relative equipoise as to whether the condition is related to active service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claim of service connection for residuals of a head injury is pending.

The Veteran received prior authorization from VA to receive treatment at a non-VA hospital, RMC, on August 10, 2010 for emergency medical treatment of leg pain.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for the Veteran's service-connected left foot ganglion cyst, finding that his disability picture is best characterized as moderately severe. The Veteran's sensory loss to the fourth and fifth toes remains at 10 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the failure of both the appellant and his attorney to appear at a previously scheduled Travel Board hearing. The case will be returned to the RO for scheduling another hearing.

The Board has granted service connection for Gitelman's syndrome, finding that the Veteran's condition was incurred in active service. The decision also addressed whether the Veteran's Bartter's syndrome and hypokalemia were related to his time in service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his left knee disability has been remanded due to the need for additional examinations and consideration of all evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to an outstanding hearing request. The Veteran was previously granted a 20 percent disability rating for his service-connected condition, but the Court set aside this decision. He now needs another hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's right clavicle fracture resulted in functional loss with pain on movement, warranting an initial 10 percent disability rating for the period prior to October 3, 2007.

The Veteran's claim for additional educational assistance under Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill) is denied as the law limits combined VA education benefits to a total of 48 months. The Veteran was informed in error that she had more than this amount available, but her actual entitlement remains within the statutory limit.

The Board found that the cause of the Veteran's death, cardiorespiratory failure due to cardiovascular failure, was not caused by or substantially contributed to by any disability incurred in or aggravated by active service. The Board concluded that there is no reasonable possibility that obtaining an opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's death would aid in substantiating the claim.

The Board has determined that the appellant does not have qualifying service as a member of the Philippine Commonwealth Army, including in recognized guerrillas, to establish eligibility for payment from the FVEC Fund.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left eye disability is not related to service and denied his claim for service connection.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including a new examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected residuals of a left fifth toe fracture and to determine the nature and likely etiology of his claimed left foot disability.