Other conditions decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for urinary frequency, incontinence, and nocturia is granted with an effective date of August 12, 2016.

The Board has granted a 60 percent disabling rating for peripheral vascular disease of the right and left lower extremities, effective March 1, 2016.

The Board dismissed the appeal as the issue of entitlement to reimbursement for beneficiary travel benefits dated September 18, 2023 is moot because the Veteran is in receipt of the benefit sought on appeal.

The appellant is not recognized as the Veteran's surviving spouse for a survivor's pension because she divorced the Veteran prior to his death.

The Veteran's VA disability compensation is apportioned to the appellant and her child, A.M., as the Veteran has reasonably discharged his responsibilities for their support.

The Veteran's service-connected left-knee disability is found to be a contributing cause of his adjustment disorder with depressed mood, thus granting service connection for this condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient information regarding the creation of the overpayment debt and the timing of related communications. The Veteran's mother, Y.K.A., filed a waiver request on his behalf, but the reasons for the debt and the process leading up to the denial are unclear.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the issue regarding a total disability rating based on individual unemployability as it is part and parcel of other claims, and the benefits have already been granted.

The Board has granted an effective date of January 2, 2020 for a 20% rating for right hip bursitis with limitation of adduction. The Veteran's disability was found to have worsened sufficiently by that time.

The Board has decided that the VA should consider payment or reimbursement for ambulance transportation provided by Gillespie-Benld Area Ambulance Service on December 2, 2019. The decision is remanded to allow for further review of the claim under specific regulations.

The Board has granted a four separate 10 percent ratings for status post skull fracture with craniotomy repair and residual hardware, finding that the Veteran's burr holes in his skull meet the criteria for such ratings.

The Veteran requested to withdraw her appeal regarding the issue of service connection for sacroiliac (SI) joint dysfunction, and the Board has dismissed it.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for infectious mononucleosis and right thumb strain, as well as his claim for TDIU. The issues are being remanded due to procedural errors in the rating decisions.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeals regarding the termination of entitlement to TDIU and the proposal to withhold compensation payments to recoup Net Separation Pay.

The Veteran appeals the proration of tuition and fees due to a mid-semester delimiting date. The Board finds a remand is necessary as there are missing educational records.

The Veteran's stomach digestive condition and skin/rash condition are granted service connection as the evidence is approximately balanced in favor of finding that these conditions began during service and continue to this day, establishing a causal link.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, where the Committee on Waivers and Compromises did not determine the validity of the debt prior to issuing its waiver denial. The Board finds that correction of this error raises a reasonable possibility of aiding in substantiating the Veteran's claim.

The Veteran's service-connected muscular strain of the right paraspinal muscles is granted at a 40 percent rating, which is the highest available under Diagnostic Code 5320. The Board also remanded for further development regarding entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 30 percent for adjustment disorder with depressed mood is being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The Board cannot consider evidence submitted after the June 2023 supplemental claim decision, but any such evidence will be considered by VA in the adjudication of this claim.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected disability, and therefore denied entitlement to service connection for cause of death.