Other conditions Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for further action under the liberalized provisions of the Veterans' Mental Health and Other Care Improvements Act of 2008, but did not apply these laws in the SSOC issued to the appellant. The case is now being returned to the VAMC for issuance of an SSOC that includes a copy of the relevant law.

The Board denied the claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized oncology medical treatment provided from January 2011 to April 2011 by Harrison Medical Center in Bremerton, Washington as it was not authorized by VA and was not emergent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's skin rash, diagnosed as vitiligo, was likely aggravated by his active service. The Board finds in favor of the Veteran and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by bipartite patella and DJD, is currently rated at 10 percent. The VA examinations have consistently shown full extension of the knee with no significant impairment in range of motion.

The Board found that the Veteran's right foot disorder did not have its clinical onset in service and is not otherwise related to active duty. The arthritis in the right foot was not exhibited within the first post-service year.

The appellant's husband had an other than honorable discharge and therefore does not meet the criteria for burial in a VA national cemetery.

The Veteran's left eye pinguecula/pterygium has not been associated with any visual impairment, disfigurement, active conjunctivitis, or other symptoms. Therefore, his claim for a compensable rating is denied.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral CTS does not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU rating, and there is no evidence of unemployability due to her service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining private treatment records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's residuals of a left foot injury are currently rated as 10 percent disabling, effective prior to October 8, 2013. The Board has determined that the criteria for an initial compensable rating have been met.

The VAMC denied the Veteran's request for a clothing allowance for 2013. The case is being remanded to schedule a hearing before a Veterans Law Judge.

The Veteran's current skin disorder was not incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service. The Board finds the evidence does not support a finding of service connection for a skin disorder.

The VA examiners determined that the Veteran's recurrent upper respiratory infections (URI) did not constitute a chronic disability and were part of known clinical diagnoses. Therefore, service connection for a respiratory disorder is denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's back pain was not caused by VA care, but rather due to a myelogram performed in 1978. The claim is denied as there is no evidence of fault on VA's part.

The Veteran's claim for Post-9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33) educational assistance benefits was denied as he did not meet the eligibility criteria due to insufficient qualifying active duty service.

The Board has remanded the claim for educational assistance under Chapter 32, Title 38, United States Code (Veterans Educational Assistance Program) due to additional evidence received after the July 2009 statement of the case. The claim will be readjudicated following completion of the June 2012 remand instructions.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable rating for alopecia areata is being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.

The Veteran's lung disability and skin condition are not service-connected as they do not have a link to his military service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current heart murmur and mitral regurgitation are not related to his active service. The dental condition claim is also denied as there is no evidence of a service-connected disability resulting from in-service trauma.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining in-patient clinical records and a medical opinion regarding the relationship between his HSP episode during service and subsequent complications.