Other conditions decisions — 2023

The Board has determined that the Appellant is the surviving spouse of the Veteran. However, due to her excessive income during the appeal period, she is not eligible for VA death pension benefits and the case is remanded for clarification on dependents and recalculation of countable income.

The Veteran's appeal for an effective date prior to May 18, 2017, for the award of special monthly compensation based on regular aid and attendance has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate this appeal as the Veteran has passed away.

The Board dismissed the appeal for service connection for irritable colon syndrome and increased rating for invertebral disc syndrome due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for payment or reimbursement of non-VA medical care provided on March 23, 2018, by Good Samaritan Medical Center and Steward Emergency Physicians are being remanded due to insufficient information regarding the remaining balance from his insurance coverage. The VA needs to ascertain what portion of the remaining balance exists and whether it is a copayment.

The Board has decided that the appeal is limited to whether the overpayment in the amount of $27,926.00 was validly created and has ordered a remand for an audit.

The Board previously denied the claim for service connection for a skin disability. The case is being remanded due to insufficient discussion of a July 2021 medical opinion and consideration of lay evidence.

The Veteran's death was caused by glioblastoma multiforme, which the Board finds may be related to herbicide exposure. The appeal is remanded for further development and an expert medical opinion regarding this potential connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding the Appellant's insanity at the time of his misconduct, and for obtaining a complete set of service personnel records.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete information regarding the appellant's income and medical expenses. The claim will be readjudicated based on this new evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed breathing disability, specifically dyspnea and reactive airway disease. The examiner is asked to determine if these conditions are related to service exposure in Okinawa, Japan.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for cancer, right base of the tongue, is reopened and remanded. The effective dates for bilateral hearing loss and PTSD are also remanded due to procedural issues.

The Board has remanded the case due to a request from the Court for additional medical records. The Veteran is asked to provide a release for VA to obtain treatment records from Dr. Panke in Davenport, Arizona.

The Veteran's right foot stress fracture, 2nd metatarsal, is now rated at 20 percent from September 27, 2021. The initial ratings for patellofemoral pain syndrome of the right and left knees remain denied.

The Board has determined that further development is needed to properly adjudicate the rating reduction and increased rating claims for cancer of the larynx. The Veteran's claim will be remanded to obtain updated VA medical records, authorize private practitioner results if necessary, and schedule a new VA examination.

The Veteran's spouse did not timely file a request for waiver of overpayment of VA pension benefits, which resulted in the denial of the appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and the need for a VA examination regarding the Veteran's bilateral foot fungus.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death, and the Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this case.

The Veteran was unable to maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected conditions from January 2012 to April 2012, and the Board granted TDIU benefits for this period.

The Board has remanded the claims for higher ratings for service-connected peptic ulcer and TDIU prior to February 18, 2018 due to insufficient medical opinions addressing the ameliorative effects of the Veteran's medications during the relevant time frame.

The Veteran's son is seeking entitlement to accrued benefits, including reimbursement for the expense of last sickness and burial. The Board has noted that relevant evidence was not considered by the RO prior to certification to the Board and has ordered a remand to consider this additional information.