Other conditions decisions — 2024

The Board remands the claim for payment or reimbursement of non-VA emergency medical services to ensure proper adjudication under 38 U.S.C. § 1725 and related regulations.

The Veteran's skin disorder, including basal cell carcinoma of the face and ears as a result of sun exposure, is granted with a 30 percent rating. The skin disorder, including basal cell carcinoma of the arms and chest as a result of sun exposure, remains noncompensable.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for cause of death to obtain an addendum opinion addressing whether any of the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused, contributed or hastened his death.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to a compensable rating for service-connected status post blunt trauma to the spleen due to inadequate evidence and conflicting statements from the October 2020 VA examinations.

The claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses is remanded to obtain missing documentation and ensure all relevant records are associated with the claims file.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for bilateral pes planus, finding that November 21, 2020, is the earliest allowable effective date.

The Board granted a 40 percent initial rating for gout, finding that the Veteran experienced three or more incapacitating episodes per year and had moderate limitation of motion in his ankles.

The Veteran's prescription medication from August 11, 2023 was not related to an emergency medical visit and therefore does not meet the eligibility criteria for payment or reimbursement under 38 U.S.C. § 1725.

The Veteran did not have any pending claims or appeals for accrued benefits at the time of his death, and therefore, the appellant is not entitled to such benefits.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the dispute regarding additional payment for non-VA medical care provided to the Veteran is subject to a specific administrative process under VA regulations, and the Board does not have authority to review or resolve such disputes.

The Board has remanded the case due to a lack of evidence regarding toxic exposure during service, specifically at Fort McClellan. The appellant must provide additional information about any potential exposure and VA will conduct further investigation.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for TDIU, and the Board dismissed the case as a result.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for acquired deviated septum was granted in a separate rating decision, making the appeal moot.

The Board has granted entitlement to add C. as the Veteran's dependent spouse on his VA disability compensation award, based on their valid common law marriage that became effective after the Veteran was legally divorced from his prior spouse.

The Veteran's common law marriage with his current spouse, C., is recognized as valid after he was legally divorced from his prior spouse in September 2015. As a result, C. can be added as the Veteran's dependent on his VA disability compensation.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's stage II colon cancer is related to his in-service asbestos exposure and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted the restoration of a 30 percent disability rating for chronic constipation with history of colon polyps, effective July 13, 2021. The Veteran is already in receipt of the maximum schedular rating for this condition.

The Veteran's claim for ambulance transportation services provided on August 11, 2021, has been dismissed as the issue was already adjudicated by the Board in a previous decision.

The appeal was dismissed as the AOJ administratively approved the payment of non-VA emergency medical services provided to the Veteran on November 12, 2020, to November 13, 2020.

The veteran withdrew the appeal for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance and an effective date prior to July 5, 2016 for individual unemployability.