Other conditions decisions — 2023

The Board has found a pre-decisional duty to assist error regarding the Veteran's claim for service connection for Crohn's disease. The Veteran provided relevant medical records and treatment histories that were not obtained prior to the rating decision on appeal. The Board orders an effort to obtain these records, including those from private medical facilities and VA employees who scanned records into the system.

The Veteran's claim for higher education benefits under the Post 9/11 GI Bill was denied because his qualifying active-duty service did not meet the required length of at least 24 months but less than 30 months, thus preventing him from receiving a rate in excess of 80 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for an earlier effective date and a higher rating for service-connected bilateral eye disability due to missing medical records. The Veteran's private ophthalmologist provided treatment since 2015, but those records have not been included in his file.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of ambulance expenses incurred on December 9, 2021 is being remanded due to the need to obtain treatment records and properly adjudicate under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1725 and 38 C.F.R. §§ 17.1000-1008.

The Veteran's gout symptoms have more nearly approximated the criteria for an initial 40 percent disability rating, and he is granted a noncompensable rating but with a 40 percent rating effective July 12, 2016.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal, and the Board dismissed it due to her withdrawal.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of DMDC and DMC records regarding drill days during fiscal year 2017, which could affect the validity of the overpayment. The Veteran's request for waiver of recovery is also on hold until these records are obtained.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for idiopathic thrombocarpurpa is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and an opinion regarding the relationship between his condition and presumed herbicide exposure in service.

The Board has remanded the case due to procedural errors and a need for further adjudication of accrued benefits claims, including eligibility for substitution as claimant.

The Veteran's disability rating is less than 70%, so he does not meet the eligibility criteria for PCAFC benefits.

The Veteran's initial noncompensable rating for residual scarring from basal and squamous cell carcinoma on the face and ears is denied as his scars do not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations.

The appeal was dismissed because the Veteran withdrew his appeal before a decision could be made.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for ulcerative colitis, sclerosing cholangitis, and ankylosing spondylitis due to a lack of VA examinations and duty to assist errors.

The Board dismissed the appeal as it has no jurisdiction to review the claim for payment of medical services provided by Aegis Sciences Corporation (ASC) on December 5, 2019. The appellant sought reimbursement under the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP), but the VCCP does not apply to this case.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hand and right hand paresthesia as new and relevant evidence was not received to support these claims.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as no case or controversy exists with regard to VA payment for the ASC medical services provided on February 28, 2020.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of recent treatment records and requests for private care providers' records. The Veteran's right cubital tunnel syndrome claim will be reconsidered with these additional records.

The Veteran's other specified trauma and stressor related disorder is rated at 70 percent, which meets the criteria for total occupational and social impairment.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral eye disability, finding that there was no evidence of a chronic bilateral eye disorder related to service or post-service exposure.

The Board has denied service connection for a left hand middle finger disability and bilateral ear disability. The Veteran's claim for an ulcer is remanded.,Service connection was not granted for the claimed conditions due to lack of current disabilities.