Other conditions decisions — 2024

The appeal concerning the cost of non-VA medical services provided by the Appellant on June 10, 2020, has been dismissed as the claim was administratively approved.

The Veteran's service information is not of record. The appellant, Christian Hospital, provided inpatient services to the Veteran from May 6, 2018, through May 22, 2018. They filed a claim for payment or reimbursement based on CMS standards, asserting they are due $28,700.21. However, it is unclear how the amount was determined and there remains a partially paid bill. The Board finds that remand is warranted to ensure proper notice and evidence consideration.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's digestive condition manifesting as diarrhea, which is secondary to his service-connected cholecystectomy.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for additional dependency compensation for his dependent parent, J.B., finding that the original claims were not properly appealed and that the earliest effective date is February 10, 2021.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error, and requires an addendum medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's oral disorder is related to service exposure.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examinations and requests for further evaluation of the Veteran's benign lipomatous neoplasm.

The Veteran's hospital stay at Missouri Baptist Sullivan Hospital from June 19 to June 20, 2019 was underpaid. The Board is remanding the case for further action to ensure proper payment and notification.

The Veteran's liver cancer claim is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error related to the lack of opinions on the relationship between his alcohol use disorder and PTSD, as well as the potential environmental exposures in Southwest Asia.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current back disability and his in-service injury.

The Veteran's service-connected other specified trauma and stressor related disorder is rated at 70 percent disabling, effective November 6, 2018.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 40 percent for the Veteran's bilateral eye disability, finding that her visual acuity and field defect warrant a 40 percent evaluation.

The Board has determined that a remand is needed to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors, including for additional VA examinations of the Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disability and headaches.

The Veteran's claim for a 50 percent evaluation of left hip fracture residuals from July 7, 2017 is granted. The effective date for the shortening of the left lower extremity is set at December 11, 2019.

The Veteran's effective date for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits is denied as the law does not allow an earlier effective date than February 18, 2011.

The appeal concerning the cost of non-VA medical services provided on December 6, 2019 has been dismissed as the claim was administratively approved.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in apportionment payments and a lack of verification. The specific actions required are to determine where the retroactive payment was sent, perform an audit, and review if the overpayment is valid.

The Board dismissed the appeal as it found that the AOJ had already granted the benefit sought on appeal and there were no remaining allegations of law or fact for appellate consideration.

The VA denied the appellant's request to have their deceased spouse buried in a VA national cemetery due to lack of active military service.

The Veteran's cause of death was initially denied service connection in April 2016, but the Appellant submitted a new claim for DIC benefits on February 12, 2020. The Board found that an earlier effective date is not warranted and denied the claim.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for his 10 percent ratings for right and left foot hammer toes, finding that the evidence did not show a factually ascertainable increase in disability prior to July 3, 2020.