Other conditions Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to address whether his disequilibrium or dizziness is related to his service-connected hearing loss and/or tinnitus.

The Board denied the claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for residuals of a laparoscopic inguinal herniorrhaphy.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 due to a transmetatarsal amputation of the right foot resulting from VA treatment in March through May 1999 has been dismissed as the appellant died during the appeal process.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining SSA benefits information and completing VA forms regarding income and medical expenses. The Veteran's surviving son's claim of service connection for the cause of death is also being remanded.

The Veteran's left heel spur was diagnosed during service and has persisted. The Board finds that the condition is related to his military service.

The Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 is being remanded to obtain additional medical records and a VA examination to determine if she has residual burns from her PUVA treatment, whether the VA was negligent in using an old machine during the treatment, and to assess any new disability.

The Board has determined that the appellant's discharge from military service was under conditions other than honorable, which constitutes a bar to VA benefits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a torn groin muscle and multiple joint pain condition are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining medical records and conducting VA examinations.

The Veteran's right knee and ankle disabilities are currently evaluated at the lowest possible ratings under VA rating criteria, with no evidence of symptoms warranting higher evaluations.

The Board has determined that the case should be remanded for proper VCAA notice and to address the issue of apportionment of burial benefits between the appellant (daughter) and appellee (girlfriend).

The VA denied reimbursement for the private dental care provided by Dr. West as prior authorization was not obtained and no VA facility was feasibly available.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right elbow disability is related to his military service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for his service-connected dysthymia has been remanded due to the need for additional development, including a VA psychiatric examination and obtaining relevant medical records.

The Veteran's appeal of her increased rating claims for service-connected right and left ingrown toenails has been dismissed due to her withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling examinations to evaluate his service-connected peritoneum adhesions and peripheral neuropathy. The issues of a rating in excess of 30 percent for the peritoneum adhesions and service connection for the bilateral upper and lower extremities' peripheral neuropathy are being remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 40 percent rating for arthralgia of multiple joints was denied by the Board, as it is not factually ascertainable that his disability increased in severity prior to February 22, 1995.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have current residuals of cold injury to the feet, and his claims for service connection of infectious mononucleosis and a left index finger injury were denied due to lack of evidence showing these conditions at the time of the April 1956 rating decision. The new and material evidence received since then has not raised a reasonable possibility of substantiating these claims.

The appellant is not eligible for non-service-connected death pension benefits, accrued benefits, or DIC under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1318 as the decedent did not have any service-connected disabilities at the time of his death.

The Board has remanded the case for obtaining SSA and OPM records related to the Veteran's heart condition, as these records may be pertinent to VA claims. The claim will then be adjudicated again based on this additional information.

The Board found that the appellant and the Veteran did not have a valid marriage for VA purposes, thus denying her claim as the surviving spouse.