Other conditions decisions — 2024

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a liver disorder, finding that there is no evidence linking any current liver condition to service or a service-connected disability.

The Board dismissed the appeal because it does not have authority to review disputes arising under Veterans Care Agreements (VCAs), including disagreements over contractual payment amounts. The appellant's claim for additional payment under a VCA is therefore dismissed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's application for the Edith Nourse Rogers STEM scholarship was not properly notified of the basis for denial and requires further review to determine if his coursework qualifies as an undergraduate degree in a STEM field.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received, specifically the Appellant's May 2024 hearing testimony. The claim for service connection for cause of death is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Veteran's bilateral maculopathy is granted a disability rating of 30 percent, but not higher. The issues of entitlement to an initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for major depressive disorder are remanded.

The appeal for payment or reimbursement of non-VA medical services provided on December 21, 2020 is dismissed as it was a duplicate appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error in the adjudication of the April 2019 administrative decision regarding the Veteran's incarceration-related debt. The VA is required to conduct a paid and due debt audit and contact the Debt Management Center for a determination regarding the nature of the Veteran's debt.

The Board has dismissed the appeal because the issue of whether the contractual payment rate for home health services provided by the appellant in February 2020 is proper falls under a specific administrative dispute resolution process that does not allow for appellate review.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to incomplete documentation from TriWest regarding the medical services provided on June 10, 2020.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's Merkel cell carcinoma, finding that it is related to herbicide exposure during his active duty in Vietnam.

The Veteran's appeal has been withdrawn by the Appellant, and all issues related to aid and attendance, housebound compensation, 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for chronic hypotension, 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for chronic ischemia, and 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for chronic renal failure have been dismissed.

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding the propriety of the contractual payment rate for home health services provided by the appellant from March 4, 2020 to March 11, 2020 under a Veterans Care Agreement (VCA).

The Board has remanded the case due to failure to provide an accounting of the Veteran's payments from August 1, 2000 to February 28, 2019. The AOJ is required to conduct a thorough, month-by-month accounting and provide a detailed explanation for all payments made or withheld.

The Board has vacated the decision denying payment or reimbursement for unauthorized non-VA medical expenses and dismissed the appeal due to the Veteran's death, as his niece does not have standing to pursue the claim.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for meningitis as there is no current diagnosis of meningitis or corresponding residuals.

The Board dismissed the claim as it pertains to the contractual payment rate for home health services provided by the appellant from February 5, 2020 to February 26, 2020 under a Veterans Care Agreement (VCA). The appeal is not about service connection and does not involve any exposure basis.

The Board has dismissed the appeal because it does not have authority to address questions regarding the proper contractual payment rate for services provided under a Veterans Care Agreement (VCA). The appellant's request for additional payment under a VCA is dismissed.

The Board dismissed the appeal as the AOJ administratively reversed and approved payment for non-VA medical services provided to the Veteran on December 9, 2020.

The Veteran's appeal for payment of non-VA medical services provided on February 9, 2023 is dismissed due to the nature of the benefit itself and lack of jurisdiction.

The Veteran's appeal for TDIU is remanded due to a predecisional duty to assist error, and the case is referred to the Director for extraschedular consideration of TDIU.