Other conditions decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for service connection for diverticulitis is remanded due to the need for verification of his service at Camp Lejeune and a VA medical examination to assess the nature and etiology of his condition.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's neck condition is related to her in-service motor vehicle accident and grants service connection for this disability.

The Board denied the appellant's claim for payment of non-VA medical expenses incurred on June 7, 2021 because there was no VA authorization for the services and they were not treatment for a medical emergency.

The Board has decided to remand the claim for a stroke, as it is related to service-connected hypertension and/or obstructive sleep apnea. A TERA-compliant examination will be scheduled to determine if the Veteran's stroke was caused by his military service or aggravated by his service-connected conditions.

The appeal for payment of non-VA medical care provided on June 29, 2020, was dismissed as the claim was administratively approved by VA.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, and will consider all evidence of record at this time. The Veteran's death was caused by cancer of the ampulla vater, but the cause is unclear given his exposure history.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of a throat condition was dismissed because the VA Form 10182 was not filed within one year after the January 2017 rating decision, and no extension was granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in duty to assist and incomplete medical opinions. The Veteran's claim for service connection is being reviewed again with new examination and addendum opinions.

The appeal for Dependents Educational Assistance benefits is dismissed as the benefits are currently in effect since November 15, 2015.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for SMC based on loss of use of his left foot, finding that there was no pending or unadjudicated claim prior to March 8, 2011.

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding the contractual payment rate for medical services provided by Mennonite General Hospital on February 28, 2020. The dispute is not related to service connection and does not involve VA policies or interpretations of general applicability.

The Veteran's service-connected other specified trauma and stressor related disorder has been shown to be productive of occupational and social impairment with an occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks. The Board denied a rating in excess of 30 percent due to the symptoms not meeting the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claims for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance/housebound were dismissed because the Veteran had a pending request for higher-level review in December 2020, which prohibited concurrent election of review options.

The Board dismissed the appeal because it does not have authority to review disputes related to contractual payment amounts under Veterans Care Agreements (VCAs). The appellant's claim for additional payment was dismissed.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for his Total Disability Rating due to Individual Unemployability (TDIU). The Board has determined that the case requires referral to the Director of Compensation Service for extra-schedular consideration.

The appeal for an earlier effective date for service connection of a mental health disability is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's eligibility for benefits under VA's Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) is being remanded due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error. The Board finds the March 2024 Centralized Eligibility and Appeals Team (CEAT) medical review inadequate, particularly regarding the Veteran's need for assistance with medication management.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected left fifth finger disability was denied as the maximum allowable schedular rating has been assigned, and amputation is not a viable option due to functional impairment.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of information about the Canadian educational institution attended by the appellant. The claim will be reconsidered with this additional information.