Other conditions Board decisions

The Board has granted service connection for a neck condition as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected arthralgia of the lumbosacral area with degenerative disc disease L3-L4. The issue of entitlement to TDIU due to service-connected disability is remanded.

The Board found that the Veteran's left eye epiretinal membrane and unexplained optic atrophy were not caused by VA's care, treatment, or examination. The Veteran's condition was determined to be a direct result of his pre-existing conditions.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension based on the need for regular aid and attendance or being housebound is currently pending. The Board has decided to remand this issue due to incomplete records, specifically SSA disability benefits records.

The Board finds that the Veteran's service-connected bilateral otitis externa does not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation as there is no evidence of swelling, discharge, or itching requiring frequent and prolonged treatment.

The Veteran's nasal papillomas are etiologically related to HPV he incurred in service. The issues of service connection for throat cancer and tinnitus, the issue of entitlement to reopen a previously denied claim for hearing loss, and the issue of an increased rating for PTSD are remanded.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for narcolepsy was reopened, but his claim for a higher disability rating for bilateral pes valgo planus remains denied. His TDIU claim is pending and will be addressed in the future.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claimed bilateral leg circulation disorders, to include peripheral artery disease, were not incurred or aggravated during active service and are not related to any incident of service. The claim for service connection is denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current disability related to her claimed left hip and joint inflammation conditions, and thus service connection cannot be granted for these issues.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, but it is not clear whether the service-connected disabilities contributed substantially or materially to his death. The appeal remains undecided.

The Veteran's claim for basic eligibility for nonservice-connected pension benefits is denied as his service does not meet the threshold criteria.

The Veteran is seeking compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a left femur disability allegedly caused by improper treatment from VA medical staff following a motor vehicle accident in December 1979. The case has been remanded to obtain further examination and opinion regarding the current condition of the Veteran's left femur.

The Veteran's recognized guerrilla service is not considered qualifying military service for the purposes of non-service connected pension benefits.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at the Florida Hospital Medical Center on June 24, 2003 was denied because a VA facility was feasibly available to treat his joint pain.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred at a non-VA hospital was denied because the treatment did not meet the criteria for emergency services, and there is no evidence that the condition required immediate medical attention.

The Veteran is seeking payment or reimbursement for unauthorized medical expenses incurred at Brandon Regional Hospital on February 5, 2004. The case has been remanded due to incomplete records and the need for further development regarding enrollment in VA healthcare system, other health care coverage, and availability of a suitable VA facility.

The Veteran's post-operative hallux valgus in both feet is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted.

The Veteran's right knee disability, characterized by some pain and swelling with moderate limitation of motion but no more than slight instability or subluxation, does not meet the criteria for an evaluation in excess of 30 percent.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development and consideration of an extraschedular rating.

The Veteran's claims for bilateral arm disability, including as due to Agent Orange exposure, were denied.

The Board is remanding the case for further development, including obtaining an opinion from a liver cancer specialist and clarifying the qualifications of the current examiner.