Other conditions Board decisions

The Veteran's son was diagnosed with an imperforate anus with a fistula into the bladder, but these conditions are not covered birth defects under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1815 and there is no evidence that the appellant's mother was a Vietnam veteran exposed to herbicides.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's breast cancer is of service origin and grants her claim for service connection.

The Veteran does not have a dental disorder as a result of combat wounds or other trauma during his active military service and the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's private medical expenses incurred on September 12, 2010, and September 13, 2010 were not authorized by VA. The treatment was not provided in connection with a service-connected disability or a nonservice-connected condition associated with and aggravating a service-connected disability. At the time of the treatment, the Veteran was not in receipt of a permanent and total disability rating, participating in vocational rehabilitation, or an active participant in VA health care.

The Board found that the Veteran's current left tibia disability, including reflex sympathetic dystrophy and osteomyelitis, did not have onset during service or as a result of military service. The pre-existing residuals of a fracture were not permanently increased in severity due to military service.

The Board has granted service connection for emphysema, for the purpose of accrued benefits.

The Board denied service connection for a left hand disorder and bilateral hip disorder, both claimed as secondary to service-connected disabilities. The case was remanded multiple times but the claims remain denied.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records related to a blood clot before service and asking the Veteran to provide information about his treatment of a blood clot in 1967 or 1968.

The Board has granted a 60 percent disability rating for macular pucker and aphakia, status-post repair retinal detachment right eye, with inferotemporal retinal dialysis of the left eye, effective November 27, 2010. The Veteran's right eye is manifested by light perception only, while his left eye has visual acuity of 20/40.

The Veteran's mood disorder with depressive features has been rated at 50 percent since October 21, 2010.

The Board determined that the Veteran's esophageal cancer was not caused by exposure to ionizing radiation during his service, and thus denied the claim for service connection.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an initial increased rating for his service-connected respiratory disorder.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of infectious mononucleosis and chronic liver disease, finding that there was no evidence to support a direct relationship between these conditions and his military service.

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

The Board has determined that the appellant's request for a waiver of overpayment was timely. The appeal is granted to this extent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral foot condition is related to his service-connected right knee disability and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has determined that the VA treatment records for the period of May to July 2003 are incomplete and must be obtained. A new medical opinion is needed regarding whether VA provided adequate care for the fungal infection, which led to osteomyelitis and cancer.

The Veteran received unauthorized medical expenses at a non-VA facility for gastrointestinal complaints, including vomiting blood. The claims were not submitted within the required 90-day period after discharge from the facility that provided the treatment. As such, payment is denied.

The Veteran's widow was in receipt of pension benefits at the time of her death, but VA can only pay benefits as authorized by law and the effective date for discontinuation is the last day of the month before death. Therefore, there are no accrued benefits to which the appellant could be entitled.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's previously denied claim for service connection for cardiovascular disease, including cardiomyopathy. The evidence submitted since May 1997 includes current diagnoses of a heart disability and raises a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claim.