Other conditions decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for multiple myeloma, including amyloidosis and plasmacytoma. The examiner is requested to provide an addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran's condition is related to his in-service exposure to contaminated soil at Fort Ord.

The Veteran's bunions and related foot conditions are rated at 30 percent each, with the right foot receiving a separate rating for surgical scars. The decision is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits because he did not have active military service during a period of war, and thus was ineligible for these benefits.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the issue of entitlement to service connection for pancreatitis.

The Veteran's claims for right lateral epicondylitis and limitation of forearm flexion, as well as nephrolithiasis, were denied in final rating decisions. The Board found that the effective dates should be August 2, 2019.,The Veteran appealed these decisions seeking earlier effective dates. However, the Board determined that the effective dates should remain at August 2, 2019.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's mother is not eligible for dependency benefits due to her income exceeding $400. The decision was based on the current unemployment benefits she receives, but the Veteran's representative claims this amount may have changed. The Board has ordered a remand to obtain updated information from the Veteran regarding his mother's income.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since August 18, 2010. The Board has granted an earlier effective date of August 18, 2010 for TDIU.

The Veteran's right clavicle fracture/strain disability was not incurred in a combat zone or during combat-related operations, and the VA recoupment of his severance pay for this condition is proper.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error and further development is needed regarding the Veteran's claim for earlier effective date of narcolepsy.

The Board has vacated the decision dismissing the Veteran's claim for benefits under VA PCAFC due to a lack of proper process. The case is now remanded for further review and clarification.

The Veteran is granted more than 13 days of VA educational Assistance benefits under the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP) for his degree in Business Administration he received at Medaille College.

The Board has found that the VA examination provided in April 2019 was inadequate and remanded for an addendum opinion to address the Veteran's dry eye syndrome, including its relationship to other diagnosed conditions and whether any of these conditions aggravated his dry eye syndrome.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's in-service hypercholesteremia is causally related to his cardiopulmonary arrest and subsequent death. The VA will seek a medical opinion on this issue.

The Board dismissed the appeal as the Veteran cannot receive double compensation for his spouse and child due to a waiver of overpayment, rendering moot the issues of earlier effective dates.

The Board has granted a 100 percent rating for the Veteran's ascending aortic aneurysm, finding that it precludes exertion.

The Board dismissed the appeal as to the propriety of reducing and terminating the Veteran's nonservice-connected pension benefits, effective March 1, 2001, and September 1, 2006, due to a correction in SSA income for the minor child.

The Board has determined that the Centralized Eligibility and Appeals Team (CEAT) review is legally inadequate to support the decision made regarding eligibility for PCAFC benefits. The Veteran's need for personal care services, supervision, protection, or instruction was not adequately addressed in the CEAT's decision.

The Veteran's non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with large B-cell lymphoma is rated at 100 percent permanent and total disability, as the condition has been incurable, requires ongoing treatment, and causes significant residual symptoms.

The Veteran's claim for reinstatement of benefits after termination based on fugitive felon status was granted in a rating decision issued by the AOJ in February 2023. The Board dismissed this appeal as moot due to the grant of the benefit.

The Veteran's appeal for eligibility to benefits under the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) is being remanded due to errors in notification and medical decision-making. The claim will be reconsidered based on updated eligibility criteria, including a determination of whether the Veteran requires personal care services as defined by VA regulations.