Other conditions decisions — 2024

The Veteran's skin conditions, including seborrheic keratosis, dermatofibroma, and lentigo, are being remanded for further inquiry into whether the Veteran was exposed to herbicide agents during his service. The Board will attempt to verify if the Veteran landed at military bases in Vietnam as a crew member aboard KA-3B aircraft which flew to and/or from the USS Ticonderoga.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error and obtain a new VA medical opinion regarding the Veteran's eye disorder.

The Board has granted service connection for an unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder (UTSRD) as the evidence is in approximate balance regarding whether it is related to a traumatic event involving the death of a fellow service member during active duty.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of a psychiatric condition was denied as the first ITF did not attach to the May 4, 2022 claim due to intervening claims filed within one year.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for pulmonary vascular disease was dismissed as a matter of law due to the untimely filing of his VA Form 10182, which is not considered timely filed under the AMA.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for intervertebral disc syndrome, finding that there is no evidence of a chronic condition in service or within the applicable presumptive period. The Board also found that the current diagnosis of intervertebral disc syndrome is not related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's death was not caused by or related to any disability incurred in service, and he did not have a pending claim for benefits at the time of his death. Therefore, burial benefits are denied.

The Veteran's death is not service-connected and therefore, he did not meet the criteria for VA burial benefits.

The appeal has been withdrawn by the appellant, and thus is dismissed.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal before the Board could make a decision.

The appeal is dismissed as the AOJ has administratively approved payment for the dental services provided on January 6, 2020.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error, specifically regarding the adequacy of the VA examination provided.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for additional dependency compensation for his daughter E. was denied as there is no clear evidence to rebut the presumption that VA did not add her on the date of birth due to notification within a year.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for an examination to assess whether the Veteran's left-hand condition is related to his military service, specifically wear and tear from his MOS as a mechanic.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for left and right trigger ring fingers due to an inadequate opinion based on incomplete medical records.

The Veteran's appeal of the apportionment of his VA disability compensation benefits withheld during his incarceration to his spouse is dismissed because he does not have a personal stake in the outcome.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding the payment or reimbursement for non-VA emergency medical transportation provided on March 8, 2020. The Board dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the head and back, mouth and neck cancer with loss of teeth and gums, and hands were found to be at least as likely as not related to his herbicide exposure. Service connection for these conditions is granted.

The Veteran's overpayment of VA compensation benefits is waived due to the lack of fault on her part and the fault of VA in not waiving her benefits during her drill days. The decision also considers that repayment would cause undue financial hardship.

The Veteran's disability rating for the service-connected residuals of left foot fracture 3rd and 4th metatarsals was reduced from 10 percent to noncompensable, effective August 8, 2022. The Board found that this reduction was improper due to procedural errors and restored the original 10 percent rating.