Other conditions Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any bilateral wrist disorders, including carpel tunnel syndrome.

The appellant is not the Veteran's surviving spouse for VA death benefits purposes as she was married to her second husband at the time of the Veteran's death.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including obtaining VA outpatient treatment records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's cholangiocarcinoma (claimed as liver cancer) will be evaluated in light of his service as a water supply specialist in Vietnam.

The Veteran's mood disorder is manifested by symptoms such as nightmares, anxiety, and a depressed mood. However, his impairment does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to lack of significant occupational or social impairment.

The Veteran has presented new and material evidence to reopen her claim for service connection for gynecological disorder, including pelvic pain and vaginal bleeding. The Board finds that the submitted evidence raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating this claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for additional compensation for his spouse, finding that he did not provide VA with her social security number until November 25, 2008, which is the latest possible effective date based on VA regulations.

The Veteran died from cardiac tamponade due to pulmonary embolism, which was caused by deep vein thrombosis. The cause of the Veteran's death is being reviewed for possible service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PLS is a variant of ALS, which is presumed to be related to service due to its association with ALS. As such, the claim for service connection for PLS is granted.

The Board found that the Veteran does not have a current gastrointestinal disorder, to include a gastric/bleeding ulcer and gastritis, that is related to his time in active duty service.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further action, including scheduling a Travel Board hearing.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred as a result of treatment at a private medical facility beginning in February 2008 is denied. The Board found that prior authorization was not obtained, and the conditions did not meet the requirements for emergency care under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1728.

The Board has granted service connection for a cardiac arrhythmia and denied service connection for a respiratory disability.

The Veteran's claim for an extension of his delimiting date is being remanded due to the need to associate VA treatment records and other relevant medical records with the claims file.

The Veteran's claim for educational assistance benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill was denied as he did not meet the eligibility criteria and had not applied for an extension of his delimiting date.

The Veteran does not have residuals of a left thigh injury incurred in or aggravated by his active duty service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a disorder manifested by disequilibrium is denied as there is no current diagnosis of such condition.

The Veteran's left lower extremity varicose veins have been rated at 10 percent since December 2007. The VA examiner found that the condition was productive of aching and fatigue in the leg after prolonged standing or walking, which was relieved by elevation of the extremity or compression hose.

The Veteran's initial claim for a compensable evaluation for dermatophytosis of the bilateral feet and groin was denied. Additionally, his request to add molluscum contagiosum to his current claim in progress was not granted.

The Board has granted an initial 20 percent rating for bilateral carpel tunnel syndrome and cubital tunnel syndrome, effective July 1, 2009.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and there is no evidence of exposure to herbicides that would allow for presumptive service connection. The cause of death listed on the certificate of death (squamous cell carcinoma) does not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to Agent Orange exposure.