Other conditions Board decisions

The Veteran received emergency treatment for a lacunar stroke at Paradise Valley Hospital due to emergent symptoms. The claim is granted as all criteria for payment of unauthorized medical expenses are met.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for residuals of a foreign body in the left chest was denied. The Board also found that severance of service connection for residuals of a shell fragment wound to the left side of the face with retained metallic fragment, effective January 1, 2010, was proper.

The Veteran's left elbow strain and left cubital syndrome have been rated based on their respective service-connected conditions, with the left elbow strain receiving a 10% rating and the left cubital syndrome receiving a 20% rating.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including an examination and consideration of new medical records. The appeal will be returned to the Board after this is completed.

The Board finds that the Veteran does not have arthritis as a result of his active duty service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for recognition as the Veteran's surviving spouse due to a lack of valid marriage at the time of his death.

The Board found that the current left eye disability is not causally or etiologically related to a period of inactive duty for service, specifically an August 25, 1999 physical altercation with another service member.

The Board has ordered further development due to incomplete records and the need for a properly completed VA Form 21-8940. The case will be returned to the AOJ for additional review.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including scheduling a VA examination and obtaining outstanding medical records. The Veteran's claim will be readjudicated after these actions.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining treatment records and a medical opinion regarding the Veteran's brain tumor.

The Board found that there is no evidence linking the Veteran's current arthritis of the right hand and back to his service, including an injury during service. The preponderance of medical evidence does not support a finding that these conditions are related to service.

The Veteran is seeking compensation under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for complications from treatment for a duodenal ulcer, but additional VA medical records are needed before the claim can be decided.

The Board has determined that a new VA medical examination is necessary to clarify the nature and etiology of the Veteran's bilateral leg disability, as well as any outstanding treatment records should be obtained.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for his service-connected lumbar spine disability is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA and private treatment records, as well as scheduling a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability, characterized by chronic sleep impairment, nightmares, depression, disturbances of motivation and mood, flashbacks, intrusive thoughts, memory loss, social isolation, and difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships, warrants a 50 percent disability rating for the entire initial rating period on appeal.

The Board has determined that a chronic neck disorder or arthritis was not incurred in service and is not related to the Veteran's military service. The claim for service connection is therefore denied.

The Board denied a request for an effective date prior to June 1, 2009 for additional compensation for the Veteran's dependent child, J.A., finding that the evidence did not show submission of J.A.'s social security number within one year from the May 2001 rating decision.

The Board finds that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether the Veteran's actinic keratosis and basal cell carcinoma are related to his in-service sun exposure, and thus grants service connection for these conditions.

The case is being remanded due to concerns about the validity of the appellant's claim as a surviving spouse and potential fraud. The VA needs to investigate these issues before making a decision.

The Board denied the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that GBM was not related to his active duty service or exposure to herbicides. The medical evidence did not support a relationship between head trauma from shrapnel wounds and GBM development.