Other conditions decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for right and left foot Haglund's deformity and posterior chronic Achilles bursitis, finding that these conditions began during active service. The claim of service connection for bilateral pes planus is remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed as moot because he received VR&E benefits to pursue his Bachelor's degree in Music Technology, which effectively resolved the issue.

The Board has determined that the AOJ committed pre-decisional duty errors and remanded for further action, including making a finding on whether the appellant is considered the Veteran's surviving spouse. The case must be remanded to consider her eligibility for aid and attendance benefits.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions and duty-to-assist errors. The Veteran's urinary dysfunction disorder is being reviewed for service connection, secondary to diabetes mellitus, and related to TERA exposure.

The Veteran's dependent spouse, M., was restored to his award of VA disability compensation effective December 1, 2007.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for earlier effective dates for TDIU and DEA benefits. As a result, the Board dismisses these cases.

The appeal for educational assistance benefits dating back to January 19, 2010 and the aggregate period of 45 months of DEA benefits is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal of SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance has been dismissed as his claim was granted, effective July 19, 2024.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and the Appellant is eligible for nonservice-connected burial benefits. The claim for a plot or interment allowance is denied as the Veteran was buried in a national cemetery. The claim for burial transportation benefits is granted.

The Veteran's appeal regarding a Total Disability Rating Independent of Service Connection (TDIU) has been dismissed due to the withdrawal request by his attorney.

The Board has remanded the claims for cor pulmonale, pneumonia, and chest injury due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The Veteran's cor pulmonale, pneumonia, and chest injury need to be evaluated in VA examinations to determine their etiology.

The Board is remanding the Veteran's claim to determine if he has exhausted all of his entitlement under Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill) educational assistance benefits.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral edemas, finding that these conditions are at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding reimbursement for travel expenses associated with VA care, and the Board has dismissed the case.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a mental health condition as secondary to his service-connected disabilities, finding that he does not have a current diagnosed mental health disability.

The Board has determined that the decision on eligibility for PCAFC benefits was legally inadequate and there is a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The case is being remanded to provide proper notice of the decision, as required by law, and to obtain an adequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's eligibility.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's neurogenic bladder, finding that it is secondary to his service-connected diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than January 31, 2022, for the grant of service connection for bilateral hip conditions were denied.,The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than January 31, 2022, for the grant of service connection for bilateral hip conditions were denied.,The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than January 31, 2022, for the grant of service connection for bilateral hip conditions were denied.,The Veteran's claims for effective dates earlier than January 31, 2022, for the grant of service connection for bilateral hip conditions were denied.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of TDIU, finding that more than one year had passed since the most recent AOJ decision and thus the claim was not continuously pursued. The effective date is set at the date of the March 2022 supplemental claim.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a hiatal hernia is remanded due to incomplete development. The AOJ should obtain the full information regarding his umbilical hernia disability and schedule him for an appropriate VA examination.