Other conditions decisions — 2024

The Veteran seeks payment or reimbursement for beneficiary travel expenses for an episode of care on July 19, 2023. The VHA Beneficiary Travel department denied the claim due to a non-completed appointment at Texas Oncology. The Board is remanding the case to obtain updated VA treatment records and ensure proper notification.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the etiology of the Veteran's fatigue and shaking hands, which are claimed as residuals of malaria. The case will be returned for further development.

The appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's death was due to prostate cancer, which is not service-connected. The Board finds that a list of the Veteran's service dates and duty locations, as well as a TERA memorandum on herbicide exposure, are needed.

The Veteran's death was not related to military service, and he did not receive VA compensation or pension benefits at the time of his death. The Board granted nonservice-connected burial benefits as per regulations.

The Veteran's appeal for VA payment or reimbursement of non-VA medical services received from February 7, 2020, through February 8, 2020 has been dismissed as the benefit sought by this appeal has already been granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an error in determining the validity of the overpayment debt, specifically regarding when the Veteran's spouse was removed from his award and how this affected the overpayment.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of February 18, 2020, for the grant of service connection for esophageal spasm. The decision stated that since the claim was filed more than one year after separation from active service, the earliest effective date allowed under law is the date of receipt of the formal claim.

The Board has determined that it does not have jurisdiction to review the claim for a compensable evaluation for arthralgia, multiple joints because the initial decision was not properly adjudicated by the agency of original jurisdiction.

The Veteran's daughter applied for PCAFC benefits, but the Veteran died before final approval of participation in the program. As a result, no accrued benefits were due at his death.

The Veteran's appeal to the Board of Veterans' Appeals regarding the apportionment of his VA disability compensation on behalf of his minor children was dismissed because it was not filed within the required 60-day period after notification of the administrative decision.

The Board has granted a Level 2 stipend under the PCAFC for the Veteran's spouse, finding that he is unable to self-sustain in the community due to dementia and requires continuous supervision, protection, or instruction.

The Veteran's stepchild, S.M., was a full-time high school student at the time of his 18th birthday and filed a claim for additional compensation benefits based on this attendance. The Board found that the criteria were met and granted the appeal.

The Board has determined that there is a need to remand the case due to an error in obtaining relevant evidence, specifically Medicare records and payment information related to the Veteran's episode of care at Alton Memorial Hospital.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's brain tumors and their relation to service exposure. The Veteran is diagnosed with meningioma, but there are conflicting opinions on whether this condition is related to his military service.

The Board found that the termination of dependency benefits for J.H. was not proper due to a lack of procedural compliance, and restored the payment.

The Veteran's dry eye syndrome is not service-connected because it resulted from an elective in-service photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) surgery to correct a developmental defect, and the symptom was not an unanticipated residual.

The Veteran's death was caused by lung cancer, which is now service-connected. The appellant received a burial allowance and transportation reimbursement but her claim for a plot or interment allowance was denied as the Veteran was buried in a state veterans cemetery.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal as recoupment of his separation pay is required due to his receipt of VA disability compensation, and he did not meet the exemptions for such recoupment.

The appeal for payment of non-VA dental services provided on August 24, 2020 has been dismissed as the claim was administratively approved by VA.