Other conditions decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for infiltrating astrocytoma with secondary vasculitis and awarded special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance prior to February 24, 2023. The decision is based on a finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to his service.

The Veteran's unauthorized medical expenses incurred at UHMC on March 20, 2013 are denied as the required prior authorization or attempted request for transfer to a VA facility was not sought after the emergency treatment ended.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development regarding whether the Veteran was a fugitive felon and if so, whether the termination of his disability compensation benefits was proper.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient TERA opinions and additional development is needed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's household income exceeded the applicable maximum annual pension rate (MAPR) since January 1, 2011, making compensation the greater benefit. Therefore, nonservice-connected pension is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate efforts in determining herbicide exposure and insufficient medical opinion regarding service connection for cardiac arrhythmia, including as secondary to herbicide exposure.

The Board has determined that there was not substantial compliance with its remand instructions and thus the case must be returned to the RO for further development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's chronic respiratory disorder.

The Board denied service connection for hypogonadism and gynecomastia as related to herbicide agent exposure during service.,The Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 were also denied.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date and initial compensable rating for epidermal cysts has been denied. The Board found that the criteria for a higher rating were not met, as the Veteran's condition did not meet the requirements of Diagnostic Code 7815.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for payment of non-VA medical testing services provided on December 29, 2020, as the claim was fully granted and paid in full.

The appeal is dismissed as the AOJ administratively approved payment for non-VA medical care provided on April 8, 2020.

The Veteran is seeking reimbursement for beneficiary travel expenses incurred on December 19, 2023. The claim was denied due to the lack of prior approval and incomplete information regarding income and deductions. The Board has decided to remand the case for further action.

The Veteran's interstitial cystitis with recurrent urinary tract infection is not rated as compensable due to the lack of evidence showing she requires suppressive drug therapy lasting 6 months or longer for her recurrent UTIs, nor does she have a voiding dysfunction that meets the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for psoriatic arthritis. The Veteran's claim will be reviewed again with a focus on whether his current condition is related to service, including considering possible exposure to toxic environmental agents (TERA).

The Board has determined that the severance of service connection for bilateral eyes keratoconus was improper and restored the original grant of service connection.

The VA has reversed its decision to retroactively terminate DIC payments, thus eliminating the overpayment of $12,576.94 and dismissing the appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for gastrointestinal, hernia, and sinus conditions due to errors in obtaining his service records and inadequate opinions regarding their etiology.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for heat stroke as there is no current diagnosis of heat stroke and the VA treatment note from September 13, 2019 did not indicate a current disability associated with a prior heat-related injury.

The Board dismissed the appeal as the claim for payment of non-VA medical services provided on October 1, 2018 has been resolved in full by administrative action.

The Board dismissed the appeal as no justiciable case or controversy is before them due to a correction of the award adjustment that eliminated the debt at issue.