Other conditions decisions — 2022

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for mitral valve prolapse, finding no current diagnosis of the condition and concluding that it is not related to her thyroid surgery.

The Veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome is rated at 60 percent, the highest available rating under current regulations. The Board has determined that he meets the criteria for a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities and combined evaluation of other disabilities.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination for determining the current severity of the Veteran's service-connected squamous cell carcinoma of the penis, metastatic to lymph node. The Veteran is entitled to a compensable rating but needs an updated VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to exposure to herbicide agents during his active duty in the Republic of Vietnam. The VA is required to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's bilateral hip disorders are not currently diagnosed, but he reports pain related to his service-connected back disorders. The Board finds that a remand is warranted for further examination and opinion regarding the nature of any hip conditions and their relationship to service-connected disabilities.

The Board granted the Veteran's request for waiver of recovery of overpayment of VA pension benefits, finding that recovery would violate principles of equity and good conscience due to financial hardship.

The Board has decided that the eligibility for benefits under VAs Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) is remanded due to inadequate notice and an incorrect medical determination. The matter will be evaluated again based on the correct statutory criteria.

The Veteran's spouse is not entitled to accrued benefits as there was no pending claim for special monthly pension at the time of his death and he was not receiving such benefits.

The Board dismissed the appeals for earlier effective dates for service connection and DIC due to the Appellant's withdrawal of her appeals.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of non-VA medical expenses incurred on July 19, 2019, at Bellevue Medical Center is denied because VA facilities were feasibly available and the treatment was procured through private sources in preference to available Government facilities.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for arthritis in both feet due to a lack of a VA examination.

The Board has determined that the previous decision denying eligibility for PCAFC benefits was not fully adequate and has ordered a remand to provide an updated medical review. The Veteran's care needs, including his prosthetic assistance and medication management, will be reassessed.

The Board has granted service connection for varicose veins and spider veins in both the right and left lower extremities, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's service due to the strenuous nature of his duties.

The Veteran's son is granted reimbursement of $1,659 for funeral expenses paid on behalf of his mother. The appeal does not involve service connection.

The Veteran's claim for a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected left elbow disability is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the previous VA examination.

The Board denied the appellant's claim as his character of discharge is dishonorable, which constitutes a bar to VA benefits.

The Veteran's appeal for S-DVI under 38 U.S.C. § 1922 is remanded due to an error in docketing and the need to obtain missing documents related to his insurance claim.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was dismissed because more than a year has passed since the VA requested for a completed TDIU application and the Veteran did not submit one.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a gastrointestinal disability, including esophageal ulceration, finding no evidence of a current, chronic condition related to or caused by service.

The Board denied service connection for a sleep disorder other than insomnia, including UARS and any other sleep disorders, as the evidence did not establish a nexus to military service or secondary to PTSD.