Other conditions decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that the change in the Veteran's means test eligibility category from copay exempt to copay required for income year 2020 was proper and denied the claim.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right forearm, thumb, long finger, and index finger disabilities. The Board found no current disability of these fingers separate from his already service-connected right wrist condition.,The VA examiner concluded that any current right hand fingers disability or functional impairment was not related to service or his service-connected right wrist disability.

The Veteran's appeal for VA loan guaranty benefits is remanded due to incomplete notice provided in the October 2022 decision. The AOJ must provide complete notice as required by 38 U.S.C. § 5104.

The Veteran seeks service connection for tongue and lymph node cancer, which he contends was caused or aggravated by his service-connected facial, jaw, and dental disability. The claim is being remanded to obtain a medical opinion on the etiology of the condition.

The Board has determined that the characterization of the Veteran's Means Test eligibility category for income year 2021 as copay required for VA healthcare was not proper and has ordered a remand to recalculate the Veteran's attributable income.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, so the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for facial nerve asymmetry with paralysis is denied as there is no objective clinical evidence of the condition during the appeal period.

The Veteran's current diagnosis of other specified trauma- and stressor-related disorder is etiologically related to in-service events, resulting in the grant of service connection.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this appeal at this time.

The Veteran's other specified trauma and stressor related disorder is rated at 70 percent, but no higher, with occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete notice and potential errors in the decision-making process regarding income and travel expenses.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heat stroke disability is denied as there is no current disability related to the claimed incident during service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error, specifically regarding the appellant's application for discharge upgrade from the Armed Forces. The decision is pending further development.

The Veteran's Barrett's esophagus is granted as service connected due to exposure to herbicide agents in the Vietnam War.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded for further evaluation due to the lack of schedular requirements and potential extraschedular consideration.

The Board has decided to remand the cases for additional development due to a duty to assist error. Specifically, VA medical records from the Vet Center and Trident Health in Summerville need to be obtained and added to the claims file.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a left eye disability is being remanded due to the submission of new evidence that may support his claim. The Board will seek an opinion from a clinician regarding whether any diagnosed condition, including chronic pain, is related to an in-service injury.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an inadequate opinion regarding whether the Veteran's substance use disorder is proximately due to or aggravated by his service-connected bipolar disorder with ADHD.

The appeal regarding the validity of an overpayment debt is dismissed as moot because the debt has been waived in full.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient employment information provided by the Veteran, and further development is needed to clarify dates of employment and request for employment information from American Airlines.