Other conditions Board decisions

The Board denied an increase in non-service-connected disability pension benefits based on unreimbursed medical expenses for the year 2007, finding that the Veteran's claim was untimely and without legal merit.

The Board denied the claim for an effective date earlier than February 1, 2010, for the payment of an award of additional dependent compensation for the Veteran's current spouse due to lack of evidence showing VA received notice prior to January 2010.

The Board has granted a 10 percent extraschedular evaluation for the Veteran's service-connected bilateral hydrocele/spermatocele, finding that the available schedular evaluations are inadequate to account for his disability level and symptomatology.

The case is being remanded for a VA examination to assess the current degree of impairment due to the service-connected left foot disability and to determine if a rating in excess of 10 percent is warranted.

The Board found that the Veteran's parotid gland disorder was not etiologically related to his active service, including exposure to herbicides.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was caused by exposure to herbicides in service, which is presumed due to his Vietnam-era service. The claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is granted.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred from January 25, 2013 to January 26, 2013 was denied because he has Medicare coverage which constitutes a health-plan contract that covers the cost of the treatment.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for syringomyelia and Arnold-Chiari malformation. The evidence shows that these conditions are congenital defects, but whether they were subject to a superimposed disease or injury during active service is unclear.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1805 for a child born with spina bifida, finding that she does not have any form of spina bifida other than spina bifida occulta.

The Veteran's essential tremor has been rated as a moderate convulsive tic disability, warranting an initial 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's burial benefits were granted and paid in August 2005, and there is no other possible legal theory of entitlement to any further burial benefits. The claim for accrued benefits was denied because the appellant did not have an outstanding claim at the time of the Veteran's death.

The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to assess the nature and probable etiology of any current swelling of the feet or disability manifested by swollen feet, as the Veteran's claims file must be made available to the examiner for review.

The Board has ordered additional VA examinations and reviews of the Veteran's medical records to determine if his current conditions are related to service-connected disabilities or other factors. The issues regarding increased evaluations for tinea versicolor, Hepatitis C with fatigue and depression, and a TDIU have also been remanded.

The Veteran's skin disability is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining his service personnel records and VA treatment records. The examiner will need to determine if the condition had its clinical onset during active service or is related to any in-service disease, event, or injury, particularly Agent Orange exposure.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred for treatment of a left tibia and fibula fracture were not authorized in advance by VA, and the claim is denied as he does not meet the criteria for reimbursement under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1728.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development and notification, including providing proper notice regarding what evidence would be needed to substantiate her application to reopen the claim of entitlement to death benefits, to include DIC and death pension.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining a letter from his eye surgeon regarding the possible link between his ocular cancer and exposure to Agent Orange.

The Veteran's service-connected residuals of a broken right index finger and broken right middle finger have been granted initial noncompensable ratings, but the Board has determined that compensable ratings are warranted based on the current evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and providing a supplemental opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his back injury and chest pain.

The Veteran's non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and anemia have been rated at 10 percent since April 30, 2004. The Board found that the evidence does not support a higher rating for either condition.