Other conditions decisions — 2020

The Board has remanded the case for further examination and opinion regarding service connection for bilateral hearing loss due to inadequate audiometric testing.

The Veteran's unauthorized expenses for care at Temple University Hospital are granted as her emergency treatment did not end when she was admitted to the hospital, but continued until her discharge against medical advice.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to change her vocational rehabilitation training program from obtaining a master’s degree in Peace and Conflict studies to achieving employment as a general office clerk/administrative legal professional. The Board found that changing the intermediate objective was not necessary to achieve suitable employment.

The appeal has been dismissed due to the death of the appellant.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's right shoulder condition, finding that there was no in-service injury or disease that caused or precipitated his current disability.

The Board has granted service connection for right and left hand disabilities, finding that the pain in these hands is caused by service-connected wrist disabilities.

The Board denied the veteran's spouse's claim for nonservice-connected death pension benefits because her late husband did not have qualifying service to establish basic entitlement.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for neck and back disabilities, and residuals of a head and face injury due to new and material evidence. The claims are now remanded for further development including a VA examination.

The Veteran's breast cancer was not incurred in service, including as a result of exposure to herbicide agents. Service connection for the condition is denied.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection were dismissed due to their death.

The Board granted additional VA survivor's pension benefits as of September 1, 2012, but denied them as of October 1, 2012 due to the appellant’s countable income exceeding her allowable maximum annual pension rates.

The Board denied DIC benefits because the decedent's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and Alzheimer's disease is not considered related to military service.

The Veteran's urinary incontinence is rated at a 60 percent rating effective October 27, 2014. The Veteran also received an increase in SMC based on the need for aid and attendance or permanent housebound status.

The Board has ordered a remand for the Veteran to be provided with an addendum opinion regarding his soft tissue sarcoma, specifically addressing whether it is at least as likely as not related to service and herbicide exposure. The examiner must consider the possibility of herbicide exposure even though it is not on the list of presumed diseases.

The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation due to aid and attendance, housebound status, and death has been dismissed.

The Board dismissed the issue of entitlement to waiver of overpayment created by removing the Veteran's former spouse, O.H., as there was no case or controversy regarding this matter. The COWC granted a waiver of the full amount of the Veteran’s overpayment debt.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for narcolepsy with cataplexy and TDIU due to service-connected disabilities. The Veteran's claim for service connection is being remanded for a new VA examination, while his TDIU claim will also be remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the service connection issue.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and need for additional private treatment records. The Veteran's hip disability is rated at 10 percent, but her claims for higher ratings are still pending.

The Veteran's appeal is about clarifying the amounts paid for a specific period and determining what he should have been paid after his marriage ended. The VA needs to conduct an additional audit.

The Veteran's mood disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent rating prior to October 24, 2018.