Other conditions decisions — 2024

The Board has decided that the AOJ did not provide due process in determining whether the appellant was attending school and qualified as a child of the Veteran past his 18th birthday, thus remanding for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of 30 percent for chronic idiopathic urticaria is granted, effective from November 29, 2019.

Your appeal regarding payment of non-VA medical services provided on May 16, 2020 has been resolved by administrative action. The claim was administratively approved and the cost paid in full.

The appeal is dismissed due to the Veteran's death, and no one has requested substitution for the Veteran.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for recognition of the Veteran's spouse and child as dependents for additional dependency compensation due to not meeting the criteria within a year of their marriage or birth.

The appeal is dismissed as the VA has administratively approved the payment for non-VA medical services provided on December 8, 2020.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error regarding the etiology of the Veteran's inguinal hernia, which is related to her service.

The Board found the appellant's character of discharge from service was a Bad Conduct Discharge due to prolonged absence without leave (AWOL) and commission of a felony. The Board determined this discharged him under dishonorable conditions, thus denying his claim for VA benefits.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for pneumonia is denied. The Board finds that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of pneumonia or residuals thereof.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for refractive errors, including hyperopia and astigmatism, is denied. These conditions are considered congenital or developmental errors of refraction.

The Board is remanding the case to determine if the Veteran's transfer of Chapter 33 education benefits to his spouse was in error and whether he desires to modify the designation to include his children.

The appeal for payment of non-VA medical services provided on December 7, 2020 was dismissed as the claim was administratively approved by VA.

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding whether the contractual payment rate for home health services provided by MGHAL is proper, as this matter falls under a specific administrative dispute resolution process that does not allow for appellate review.

The appeal is denied because the non-VA medical services provided were not authorized by VA and thus there is no legal basis for payment.

The Veteran's right and left foot hammertoe residuals, with degenerative arthritis and ankylosis, are granted a 10% disability rating each. The scars of the feet are also granted a 10% disability rating.

The Board has granted an increased disability rating of 10 percent for the Veteran's service-connected costochondritis, effective from August 2, 2021. The decision is based on the Veteran's symptoms and their impact on his ability to perform occupational tasks.

The Veteran's appeal for the propriety of nonservice-connected pension benefits adjustment has been dismissed as he withdrew his appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's aortic condition, which resulted in heart failure symptoms at a METs level of 1 to 3, is granted a rating of 100 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance of another person and being housebound was dismissed as there is no valid appeal due to concurrent election.

The Board dismissed the appeal because it does not have jurisdiction to decide whether VA should pay for medical services provided by a non-VA provider.

The Board has determined that the eligibility determination for PCAFC benefits is legally inadequate and requires further review by the AOJ.