Other conditions decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that the Veteran's left hip strain is at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by her service-connected lumbar spine disability, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran was granted additional dependency benefits for his son, but the RO did not provide an accounting of the award following this grant. The Board has ordered a paid and due audit to determine if past-due benefits are warranted.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for earlier effective dates for total disability based on individual unemployability and Dependents' Educational Assistance. The Board has dismissed the appeal.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as it pertains to a dispute regarding the contractual payment rate for home health services provided under a Veterans Care Agreement (VCA). The applicable statute and regulation do not allow for Board review of such disputes.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx was granted with an effective date of March 31, 2014. The Board found that no earlier effective date is warranted as the evidence did not support such a finding.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for loss of teeth, finding that there was no evidence showing in-service trauma or disease leading to loss of substance of the body of the maxilla or mandible. The Veteran has not been diagnosed with a dental disability for which service-connected compensation may be granted.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals regarding service connection for chronic myelogenous leukemia and urinary dysfunction as there is no valid decision within one year prior to September 20, 2020.

The Veteran's service-connected unspecified depressive disorder (DD-NOS) required hospital treatment for a period exceeding 21 days from June 21, 2021, to August 5, 2021. The Board granted a temporary total evaluation of 100% due to this condition.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for payment of $250.00 for unauthorized non-VA medical expenses associated with COVID-19 testing performed by Aegis Sciences Corporation on January 6, 2021, and January 21, 2021.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for female sexual arousal disorder and entitlement to a higher rate of SMC, from August 19, 2019 through July 12, 2021. The Veteran needs an examination to determine if she experiences current female sexual arousal disorder related to her service-connected psychiatric disability or aggravated by it. Additionally, the impact of her disabilities on her activities of daily living during the period in question must be assessed.

The Veteran's overpayment of VA pension benefits is being remanded for further review due to issues with the Financial Status Report and potential validity of the debt.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of back problems and hernia for further review due to a duty to assist error.

The appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board denied the Veteran's applications to readjudicate his claims for service connection for various conditions, finding that new and relevant evidence did not tend to prove or disprove a nexus between these conditions and his military service.

The appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is dismissed due to an improper concurrent election.

The Veteran's entitlement to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits is not in dispute. The appellant withdrew from her classes on September 9, 2020, and the VA stopped her DEA benefits effective August 31, 2020. However, there was a duty to assist error as the AOJ did not clarify the appellant's 'last date of attendance' due to conflicting dates in the record.

Your claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is dismissed because your TDIU was granted in December 2020, making the appeal moot.

The Board has decided that the Veteran is not eligible for PCAFC benefits due to a lack of written denial notice and issues with eligibility criteria. The case is being remanded to provide proper notification and address eligibility under the correct statutory criteria.

The Veteran's eligibility for participation in VA's PCAFC program was denied due to not meeting the basic medical eligibility criteria. The Board finds that the January 2024 CEAT review is legally inadequate and remands for a new medical determination considering all medical information of record.

The Board has dismissed the claim as it pertains to the propriety of the contractual payment rate for dental services provided under a Veterans Care Agreement (VCA). The appeal is not about service connection, but rather concerns the payment process under VCA.