Other conditions Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's appeal is dismissed due to his failure to respond to requests for information and releases necessary to obtain outstanding postservice treatment records, which are critical to substantiating his claim of service connection for muscular dystrophy.

The Veteran's initial ratings for his service-connected left elbow and arm disabilities were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher initial ratings.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Raynaud's phenomenon is related to her service, and therefore grants service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for AML, finding that there was no evidence of a relationship between his current condition and exposure to ionizing radiation or tobacco use during service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and VA treatment records. The Veteran's claim of a compensable rating for residuals of the service-connected fracture of the right fifth metatarsal is on appeal.

The Veteran's additional neurological disability, including right hemiparesis, spasticity, and bowel impairment, is determined to be the result of an event not reasonably foreseeable during his August 2004 cervical spine surgery at VA. The Board finds that this constitutes a direct service connection without any presumption or secondary linkage.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including obtaining VA examinations to address the nature and etiology of his neurological disorder and the current severity of his gastrointestinal condition.

The Veteran is seeking compensation benefits for additional disability as a result of cervical spine surgery performed at a VA Medical Center in December 2005. The Board has determined that further development, including obtaining medical opinions and records, is necessary before the case can be decided.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for gout is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and further analysis of his claims.

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral onychomycosis is evaluated as noncompensable due to the condition affecting less than 1 percent of his body and not requiring systemic therapy. The Board finds that a compensable rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for colon cancer, to include as due to herbicide exposure in Vietnam, is denied because there is no competent medical evidence linking the condition to his military service or to herbicide exposure.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for additional compensation payable for a dependent spouse and child, finding that the correct effective date was August 3, 2006.

The Board found no evidence that the Veteran's current left great toe disability is related to his military service, and denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's increased disability rating for left median nerve injury, status post laceration, is granted effective August 15, 2008. The Veteran's felon, left middle finger, associated with osteomyelitis, remains at a non-compensable rating.

The Veteran seeks service connection for microscopic colitis, which he claims is related to his service-connected PTSD and/or malaria. The Board finds that a VA examination is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's current condition.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of his medical records and a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected right heel and Achilles tendon disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's petition to reopen a claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of NSC pension, finding that there was no CUE in the March 30, 2006 rating decision.

The Veteran's service-connected maxilla bone loss is manifested by bone loss of less than 25 percent as a result of traumatic injury, which does not impose limitation of masticatory function or speech impairment, or require replacement of the missing bone tissue with a prosthesis. Therefore, an initial compensable evaluation for maxilla bone loss has not been met.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of chronic schizoaffective disorder was denied as there is no evidence of a formal or informal claim prior to February 16, 2007.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Ochsner Medical Center on April 20, 2008 are eligible for payment or reimbursement as the care was rendered in a 'medical emergency' of such nature that a prudent layperson would have reasonably expected delay in seeking immediate medical attention to be hazardous to life or health.