Other conditions decisions — 2023

The Board denied an initial compensable rating for ulcerative colitis prior to December 1, 2020, but granted a 30% disability rating from that date onward.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to the appellant's withdrawal of her request for review.

The Veteran's initial rating of 10 percent for Crohn's disease is granted. The Board finds the evidence supports a higher rating, but remands due to procedural errors in not providing an examination and duty-to-assist error.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, and the Board dismissed it due to lack of allegations of errors in the determination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral flat foot disability, finding that his pre-existing condition was aggravated by service.

The Veteran's attorney has withdrawn the appeal regarding eligibility to direct payment of attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in a November 2022 rating decision. The Board dismissed the appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an error in creating the overpayment of VA compensation benefits. The Veteran is requesting a detailed audit and clarification on how the overpayment was calculated.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in decision-making and inadequate notice. The eligibility for benefits under the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) will be re-evaluated based on new evidence and a proper medical opinion.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating than 10 percent for his gastrojejunal ulcer is being remanded due to the inadequacy of the VA examination conducted in March 2022. The Board finds that the examination did not provide sufficient detail to evaluate the severity and manifestations of the disability under Diagnostic Code 7306.

The Board dismissed the appeal as the appellant and her authorized representative requested withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's request for payment or reimbursement of ambulance transportation services provided by Greenville County EMS on September 26, 2017 has been granted in full. The appeal is dismissed as the benefit sought has already been resolved.

The Veteran seeks recognition of C.Z. as his child for the purpose of additional dependency compensation due to permanent incapacity for self-support prior to attaining age 18. The Board finds a pre-decisional duty to assist error and remands for corrective action.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder has been dismissed due to his death. The appeal is not about a service connection issue, so no rating or effective date was assigned.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to a duty to assist error and a statutory duty under PACT Act. The Veteran is required to undergo medical examinations and obtain an addendum opinion regarding her gynecological conditions, including hysterectomy, ovarian cysts, and disease of the ovaries.

The Veteran's outpatient IV antibiotic treatment for osteomyelitis from February 5, 2019 to March 20, 2019 was not authorized by VA prior to the treatment. However, as his emergency treatment in January and February 2019 was covered under 38 U.S.C. § 1728, the Veteran's outpatient IV antibiotic treatment is granted.

The Board denied service connection for bilateral pleural effusions as there was no in-service asbestos exposure and the current condition is not related to active duty.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to legal inadequacy in notification and a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically regarding eligibility for PCAFC benefits. The decision is not about service connection.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before a decision was made, so the case is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a cardiac disability and dizziness due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The claims will be reconsidered with new examinations to determine if the Veteran has ischemic heart disease (IHD) and whether his current symptoms of dizziness are related to in-service exposure or other factors.

The Board denied an increase in apportionment of the Veteran's VA benefits to the Appellant on behalf of S.B. and G.B., finding that financial hardship would result for the Veteran and his other dependents if additional apportionment was granted.