Other conditions decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal is about the decision to withhold VA compensation benefits due to 93 days of drill pay received in fiscal year 2016. The Board has decided this issue and has ordered a remand for further investigation.

The Veteran's claim for payment of unauthorized medical expenses for treatment at a private facility is denied because the treatment was not for an emergency condition and VA facilities were feasibly available.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for left-foot disorder with arthritis, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability and that any potential arthritis did not manifest within one year of separation from active service.

The Board has vacated the previous decision and remanded the case for further examination to determine if the Veteran's current left foot condition is related to his in-service injury.

The Board found that the Veteran's attributable household income for 2016 was below the VA National Means Test threshold, thus changing his means test eligibility category from copay exempt to copay required in the VA healthcare system for income year 2016 was improper and granted the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for appendectomy scar was denied.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for abdominal scars, due to a laparoscopy and appendectomy, was denied.,A compensable rating was granted for a right-hand disability, including carpal tunnel syndrome.,Service connection for the Veteran's claimed right foot disorder, which she contends is related to a 1978 fall during service, was denied.

The Board has restored service connection for peripheral artery disease of the four extremities due to a prior improper severance.

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities has been dismissed as the benefit sought in full has already been granted.

The Veteran's claim for a temporary total rating beyond January 1, 2016 based on surgical or other treatment necessitating convalescence was denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for such a rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran has a current diagnosis of lupus and its etiology.

The Veteran's appeal to recognize his son J.W. as a child for VA purposes based on permanent incapacity for self-support before reaching the age of 18 was dismissed because there is no actual determination from which he could express disagreement.

The Board dismissed the appeal regarding an earlier effective date for service connection of a right biceps tear, including on the basis of clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in a September 2007 rating decision. The case is currently with the AOJ.

The Board has granted service connection for erectile dysfunction as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected depressive disorder. Service connection was denied for right and left hip conditions.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and he did not have any pending claims for benefits at the time of his death. Therefore, he is not eligible for nonservice-connected burial benefits.

The Board has remanded the case due to issues regarding a compensable rating for residuals of an old fracture with open reduction internal fixation right fifth metacarpal and TDIU. The Veteran's current noncompensable rating is denied, but his TDIU claim is referred to VA’s Director of Compensation.

The appeal for special monthly compensation due to housebound status or need of regular aid and attendance has been dismissed because the Veteran died during the pendency of his appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for a TDIU is dismissed, and her SLE rating is increased to 100 percent effective March 6, 2014.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for loss of range of motion and loss of sensation in his right index finger, finding that the evidence did not support a causal relationship between his military service and these conditions.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for accrued benefits in excess of $4,913.73 as there was no evidence that she personally incurred costs for her mother's final illness.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for residuals of ileocecal resection of the colon. The remand requires a new medical opinion addressing the nature and etiology of the cecal cancer, including consideration of the Veteran's in-service right lower quadrant pain.