Other conditions decisions — 2024

The Board denied the claim for payment of non-VA medical expenses incurred on February 9, 2021 due to lack of VA authorization.

The Board has determined that there are unresolved issues regarding the effective date of DIC benefits and has ordered a remand to obtain information from Social Security Administration (SSA).

The Board has determined that the October 2023 decision denying eligibility for PCAFC benefits is legally inadequate and requires a new medical determination considering all medical information of record.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an effective date prior to March 1, 2021 for adding his child L. and spouse J. as dependents due to lack of evidence supporting earlier claims.

The Veteran's scoliosis of the mid thoracic spine is currently rated at 10 percent, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it has not resulted in any severe impairment such as muscle spasm or guarding that would warrant a higher evaluation.

The Board has determined that the October 2023 decision denying eligibility for PCAFC benefits is legally inadequate and requires a new medical determination considering all medical information of record.

The Board dismissed the appeal as it does not have authority to decide this VCCP payment matter, which must be appealed through VA's clinical appeals process.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection for insomnia has been dismissed due to his death before a decision was made.

The Board denied the appellant's request for a higher monthly rate of payment for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits under Chapter 35, as the current rate ($96.29) is within the allowable limit based on her enrollment in 3 credit hours.

The Board denied the claim for payment of non-VA medical expenses incurred on January 7, 2021 due to lack of VA authorization.

The appeal is denied as there was no VA authorization for the non-VA medical services provided on February 10, 2021.

The Veteran's eligibility for benefits under the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) was granted prior to his death, and thus the appeal is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran's appeal for earlier effective dates for adding his children I. and L., as dependents to his VA disability compensation award was denied because the claim was not submitted within a year of notification of his combined rating, which is when he should have been notified that he might be eligible for additional benefits.

The Veteran's service-connected essential tremors of the right and left upper extremities have been granted effective February 28, 2020.,An increased rating to 30 percent for each upper extremity tremor has also been granted.

The Board dismissed the appeal as it does not have jurisdiction to decide the appeal due to the nature of the underlying statutory authority, specifically 38 U.S.C. § 1703(f).

The Board dismissed the appeal as it pertains to a specific administrative dispute resolution process for payment of non-VA medical services provided under a Veterans Care Agreement (VCA). The decision is not subject to further review by the Board.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an error in creating and validating the overpayment, which may affect the Veteran's claim for waiver of recovery.

The appeal for payment of non-VA medical services provided on October 14, 2021 is dismissed because the appellant did not file a proper Notice of Disagreement.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an addendum VA opinion addressing the etiology of the Veteran's gout, as the current opinion does not adequately consider the Veteran's lay statements and medical articles suggesting a link between gout and arthritis.

The Board denied the claim for payment of non-VA medical expenses incurred on March 8, 2021 due to lack of VA authorization.