Other conditions decisions — 2024

The Veteran's dependent spouse and stepchildren were removed from his VA disability compensation award due to a divorce, effective June 1, 2021. The appeal for restoration of these dependents is denied.

The Veteran's spouse was added as a dependent effective from May 11, 2022, and the Board granted this claim.

Your appeal for payment or reimbursement of non-VA treatment on October 21, 2018 has been dismissed as the expenses have already been written-off and there is no remaining balance.

The Veteran's appeal for higher SMC ratings and a 10% rating based on multiple noncompensable service-connected disabilities is denied. The Veteran is already receiving the maximum allowable compensation for loss of use of a creative organ (female sexual arousal disorder). Her other service-connected conditions do not interfere with her employability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for non-receipt of educational assistance benefits checks, finding that his claim was not filed within the six-year statute of limitations imposed by the Barring Act.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher initial evaluation of his service-connected right ankle disability was granted, and he is now receiving a 20 percent rating effective from April 22, 2008.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for her service-connected reflux nephropathy is being remanded due to the need for further development, including obtaining private treatment records and providing a medical opinion regarding the severity of her symptoms and their relation to her medications.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an addendum opinion to determine if the Veteran's emphysema is related to his in-service exposure to fuel and exhaust fumes.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient compliance with previous directives regarding service connection for Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS). Another remand is required.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's motion to revise a previous decision due to an interpretation error, as the October 2019 filing was actually a motion for reconsideration rather than a claim of CUE.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including permanent loss of use of both feet, meet the criteria for a certificate of eligibility for an automobile and adaptive equipment.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hip and leg disorders due to inadequate VA medical opinions. The Veteran's lay reports of symptoms during and after service are considered, along with his specific risk factors.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left foot disorder, to include arthritis, and right foot disorder. The case is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for VA payment of beneficiary travel expenses incurred on August 19, 2024, to and from CentraCare Neurosurgery (CCN) was granted. The VAMC had initially denied the claim due to lack of documentation showing attendance at the appointment, but the claims file contained CCN progress notes indicating that the Veteran attended a neurosurgery consultation on August 19, 2024.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal, and the Board dismissed the case as a result.

The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the left long finger, left index finger, left ring finger, left little finger, right thumb, right index finger, right long finger, and right ring finger. The decision is based on the presumption that these conditions are related to service due to their onset within one year following separation from service.

The Veteran's claim for additional non-service-connected pension benefits prior to February 2021 and accrued benefits were denied as the appellant did not have any claims pending at the time of his death, and there were no unpaid benefits due.

The Veteran's initial ratings for her right hip disabilities are being remanded due to missing VA treatment records from a Federal facility where she received emergency care in February 2022.

The Veteran's onychomycosis with dermatophytosis of the fingernails of the bilateral hands is rated as noncompensable, as the affected area does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA skin disability rating criteria.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error and insufficient rationale in the VA medical opinion regarding the onset of Churg-Strauss syndrome.