Other conditions decisions — 2023

The Board has granted service connection for a neck disorder, finding that the Veteran's credible reports of in-service pain and his current diagnosis are sufficient to establish service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of substantial compliance with prior remand directives, specifically regarding obtaining a medical opinion from a podiatrist. The Veteran's right foot big toe is not currently diagnosed as a hammertoe.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an eye tic as there is no evidence of a current disability and it does not result in functional impairment.

The Board denied the reduction in VA disability compensation benefits due to concurrent receipt of military service drill pay for FY 2015, finding that the RO appropriately withheld the Veteran's VA compensation benefits for 44 days of drill during this period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a dental disability for compensation purposes as there is no evidence of loss, malunion/nonunion, or limited motion of the mandible, maxilla, ramus, condyloid process, coronoid process, or hard palate that began during active service.

The Veteran's ex-spouse is seeking an apportionment of the Veteran's VA disability compensation to benefit their minor child. The case has been remanded due to procedural issues and the need for additional financial information.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of Degenerative Joint Disease is remanded due to the need for a VA medical opinion regarding her exposure at Camp Lejeune and its relation to her current condition.

The Board found that the overpayment of $5,832.59 for education benefits from August 28, 2013 to December 24, 2013 was validly created due to VA administrative error and refunded the Appellant's overpayment. The appeal is denied as the debt remains.

The Board has granted the Appellant's request to be recognized as the surviving spouse of the Veteran for purposes of receiving Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits. The decision is based on continuous cohabitation prior to the Veteran's death, without knowledge of a legal impediment.

The Board denied a request for an effective date prior to October 1, 2014, for the grant of an apportionment of the Veteran's VA disability compensation benefits on behalf of J.L. The Appellant argued that J.L. was on the paperwork from initial claim by the Veteran in 2011 or before, but there is no evidence to support this claim.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on the need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status is remanded due to a lack of an appropriate VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of his service-connected left hip disabilities due to inconsistencies in the May 2023 VA examination report.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient verification of the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors. The AOJ is instructed to attempt to verify these stressors through the VBA Records Research Center and obtain the Veteran's service personnel records.

The Veteran seeks reimbursement for medical expenses incurred on February 7, 2018 at AAMG Cardiology Specialists. The case is remanded as the AOJ needs to consider payment or reimbursement under 38 U.S.C. �� 1725 and 1728.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's right ring finger disorder is caused by or resulted from his service-connected residuals of a right wrist fracture and traumatic arthritis.

The Board denied the claims for specially adapted housing and special home adaptation grants due to these benefits not being considered periodic monetary benefits under applicable law.

The Veteran's esophageal cancer is granted as service-connected due to exposure to herbicides during his active duty in Thailand.

The Board has determined that another remand is necessary to obtain a VA examination for the Veteran's claimed pancreas disability, which may be related to herbicide exposure and/or secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus type II.

The Veteran's right hip condition is currently rated as 10% for limited flexion and noncompensable for impairment of the thigh. The Board finds that her symptoms do not warrant higher ratings under any applicable diagnostic codes.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date prior to April 25, 2018 for service connection of a total abdominal hysterectomy and SMC based on loss of use of a creative organ.