Other conditions decisions — 2023

The Board has remanded the issue of service connection for an eating disorder, secondary to a service-connected psychiatric disability due to inadequate medical opinion and failure to comply with previous remand requests.

The Veteran's child, L.N., is not recognized as a dependent for VA purposes after July 1, 2021 due to her expected graduation date in June 2021.

The Veteran's service-connected intermittent explosive disorder resulted in total social and occupational impairment, leading to a grant of a 100 percent rating.

The Veteran's claim for an initial compensable disability rating for emphysema is remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining updated VA treatment records and scheduling a VA respiratory examination.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient information regarding the pathophysiology of the Veteran's neurological condition, specifically transient ischemic attacks and cerebral aneurysm. The case will be returned for further development.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his bilateral hip disorder need to be remanded due to insufficient evidence and the need for a new VA examination.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and he died at a VA medical facility. The Appellant received $1,159 for burial and transportation expenses as the maximum allowable under VA regulations.

The Veteran provided a reasonable amount of support for his children, C.B. and G.B., through Social Security benefits. The Appellant did not demonstrate financial hardship to warrant an apportionment of the Veteran's VA compensation benefits.

The Veteran's PTSD was found to be productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70% rating effective June 28, 2019.

The Veteran's appeal for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for left eye loss of vision is dismissed due to the death of the Veteran during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has granted service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx, finding that it is related to presumed herbicide agent exposure during active duty service. The decision is based on medical opinions and evidence from a study showing higher rates of oral cavity and pharynx cancer in Korean and Australian Vietnam veterans.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for recurrent blister, left forearm and entitlement to an effective date prior to October 23, 2017, for the award of service connection for recurrent blister, left forearm.

The Veteran's service-connected nephrolithiasis and bilateral lower extremity stress reactions are granted with specific disability ratings. The claims for a left shoulder disorder and chronic kidney disease are remanded due to predecisional duties-to-assist errors.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's amputation of the right little finger was caused or aggravated by a January 2017 palmar and digital fasciectomy performed at a VA facility.

The Veteran's eligibility for VA home loan guaranty benefits is granted due to his discharge under conditions other than dishonorable, despite being discharged for a pre-existing condition unrelated to his active duty service.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal before the Board could make a decision, so the case is dismissed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for infertility and a genital disability, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to his active service.

The appeal for benefits under VA's Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) is dismissed due to the Veteran's death prior to final approval and designation into the program.

The Board has determined that the August 2021 decision denying eligibility for benefits under VA's Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers is legally inadequate and requires remand to obtain a new medical opinion from the Centralized Eligibility and Appeals Team (CEAT).

The Board has decided that the Veteran's application for PCAFC benefits is remanded due to legal inadequacies in the decision letters and a need for an adequate medical opinion. The issues include determining eligibility based on personal care needs and other criteria.