Other conditions decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to June 24, 2021 is being remanded due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error and potential errors that may help in substantiating the claim. The matter will be referred to VA's Director of Compensation Service for extraschedular consideration.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to a waiver of recovery of an overpayment of VA education benefits is remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors and the need for further development, including obtaining missing documentation related to the initial award of education benefits and notification letters informing him of overpayments.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and the appellant did not meet the eligibility criteria for nonservice-connected burial benefits. The claim is denied.

The appeal of the veteran's claim for VA benefits during their service period from November 13, 2006 through December 14, 2015 has been dismissed due to a withdrawal request by the appellant's representative.

The Veteran's death was not service-connected, and the Appellant did not meet the criteria for nonservice-connected burial benefits. The claim is denied.

The Board has determined that the Appellant's sanity at the time of his misconduct leading to his other than honorable discharge needs further clarification and will be remanded for a VA psychiatric examination.

The Board denied the claim for payment or reimbursement of non-VA medical expenses incurred on December 13, 2021 due to a lack of VA authorization.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left and right abdominal pain due to insufficient evidence at the time of the October 2021 rating decision. The Veteran's complaints and treatment for abdominal pain during and after service, along with his liver diagnosis, necessitate a VA examination.

The Veteran's cause of death was denied service connection in September 2019, and the appellant filed a supplemental claim on October 8, 2021. The Board found that an earlier effective date is not warranted as the claim was received more than one year after the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded the case due to conflicting opinions regarding the Veteran's dental condition and his in-service head injury. The claim will be reviewed again with a new VA examination, and the eligibility for outpatient dental treatment under 38 C.F.R. § 17.161 will also be determined.

The Veteran's multiple myeloma has been in remission since January 2020, but was symptomatic at the time of diagnosis. The Board granted a 100% evaluation for multiple myeloma based on its current status as symptomatic.

The Veteran's disability evaluation for vision loss and right eye optic atrophy is increased to 70 percent effective April 14, 2011. The Veteran also receives SMC based on having only light perception in his right eye.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's multiple myeloma is likely caused by his exposure to radiation during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's all radicular groups paralysis, upper left extremity, is rated at 40 percent. The Board found the evidence to be in approximate balance as to whether the condition manifests in moderately severe incomplete paralysis.

The Veteran's appeal for Dependents Education Assistance (DEA) benefits was dismissed because he did not clarify the issues on appeal and indicated his intention to disregard the Form 10182.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for Bell's Palsy is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination to determine if he has disfigurement caused by his service-connected condition, which would allow him to be rated under Diagnostic Code 7800.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for chest pain, finding that his chest pains are part of his service-connected generalized anxiety disorder with panic attacks and insomnia.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal regarding the effective date for special monthly compensation based on housebound status, and this claim is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for left and right lower chronic venous insufficiency and deep vein thrombosis due to pre-decisional errors in the duty to assist.

The Veteran's right eye corneal opacity and bilateral meibomian gland dysfunction are granted as service-connected, with the conditions believed to be related to his in-service injuries while a cadet at West Point.