Other conditions decisions — 2024

The Board denied the appellant's claim for recognition as the Veteran's surviving spouse, finding that they were not married for one year prior to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma is granted as service connected due to exposure to herbicide agents during his military service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities with a combined rating of 70 percent did not require additional education or training to obtain and maintain suitable employment consistent with his abilities, aptitudes, and interests. The Board denied the claim for VR&E services other than employment services due to lack of evidence showing he was unable to find suitable employment.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of January 6, 2017 for service connection of unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder. The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating is also remanded.

Your appeals for a compensable rating for perforated left tympanic membrane, service connection for a right ear drum disability, and service connection for a disability of the right nasal cavity, manifested by bleeding, have been dismissed.

The Board has remanded the claim due to insufficient evidence regarding the validity of the debt and how it was calculated. The Veteran's enrollment status during the relevant time period is unclear, and additional documentation and explanation are needed.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for their neck condition was dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's cause of death is denied as the service-connected adjustment disorder did not contribute to his myocardial infarction. The claim for an increased rating for acquired psychiatric disorder and TDIU was also denied.

The Veteran's request for an extension of his Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits was denied because none of the circumstances allowing for such an extension applied, and he did not provide good cause for a late application.

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

Your claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities has been granted and effective since August 1, 2012. The appeal is dismissed as the benefit sought has already been awarded.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of April 24, 2019, for service connection for chronic adjustment disorder with depressed mood was granted in a rating decision dated April 2024. The Board found that the April 2024 decision constituted a full grant of the claim and thus there is no case or controversy to resolve.

The appeal is dismissed as the relief sought has been granted and there remains no matter in controversy.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to April 12, 2024, for adding his spouse as a dependent to his VA disability compensation was denied. The earliest possible effective date is July 15, 2020, the date of the increased hearing loss evaluation.

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) was dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder (acquired psychiatric disorder) was granted, with an effective date of June 24, 2022. The decision also granted entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

Your appeal for eligibility to special adapted housing (SAH) has been dismissed as there was no appealable decision that adjudicated the matter of eligibility to SAH.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the August 2020 Decision Review Request was filed in response to a June 2020 decision that denied service connection for squamous cell carcinoma of the left tonsil with metastasis to the left neck.

The Veteran's cause of death is granted as metastatic parotid cancer, which is a listed illness under the PACT Act for veterans exposed to burn pits during military service.

The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for unspecified neurocognitive disorder and a TDIU are being remanded due to procedural errors in the prior VA examinations and incomplete medical records. The AOJ is instructed to obtain SSA disability benefits documentation, complete forms from the Veteran, and provide a retrospective medical opinion regarding the severity of the Veteran's service-connected condition.