Other conditions decisions — 2024

The Veteran's unauthorized medical treatment provided by the appellant on September 1, 2020 is being remanded due to incomplete records. The AOJ must obtain any relevant VA community care treatment records and associate them with the claims file.

The Veteran's claims for prostate and skin disabilities were denied in November 2015. New evidence received since then is relevant to the issues of service connection, but the claims are being remanded due to a lack of VA examinations.

The Board has granted an increased apportionment of $805.00 per month on behalf of the Veteran's minor child, W.F., to address financial need.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is competent to handle his financial affairs, including disbursement of funds, without limitation. The decision grants restoration of competency based on the medical evidence and applicable standards.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of Crohn's disease with ulcerative colitis, requiring ileostomy is denied. The effective date remains February 26, 2010.

The Board has granted an effective date of April 1, 2017 for the award of Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) based on service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death. The decision is based on new evidence received after a previous denial in June 2020.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for hysterectomy residuals, finding that there is at least an equipoise of evidence to support a relationship between her hysterectomy and symptoms she experienced in service.

The Board found that the Veteran's atrial fibrillation had improved and was no longer a condition warranting a rating of 60 percent. The reduction from 60 to 0 percent effective May 1, 2020, was therefore proper.

The Veteran's service connection for bladder fistula was granted, and a rating of 60 percent is assigned effective August 9, 2021. The effective date for the award of service connection for bilateral dry eye syndrome has been set at April 18, 2013. The claim for TDIU prior to November 4, 2022, remains pending.

The Veteran's service connection claim for basal cell carcinoma of the right shoulder is granted as there is a medical nexus between an in-service exposure to UV light and his current diagnosis.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's stress incontinence, finding that her symptoms began during service and have continued since then.

The Veteran's trichomoniasis is rated at 0 percent as it does not require continuous treatment or medication. The Board denied a compensable disability rating for trichomoniasis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for carcinoma of the tongue is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. The VA must obtain and associate with the claims file any outstanding private treatment records from Dr. Tijani or his oncologist, and request a medical opinion regarding whether the cancer had its clinical onset during active-duty service or is otherwise etiologically related to it, including exposure to an herbicide agent.

The Board dismissed the issue of entitlement to a waiver of recovery of an overpayment of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) compensation benefits, in the amount of $1,887.33, following the removal of the Veteran's stepson from his compensation award.

The Veteran's death precludes final approval and designation for PCAFC benefits, as neither the Veteran nor the Primary Family Caregiver Applicant can comply with all applicable requirements of the program.

Service connection for metastatic cholangiocarcinoma (including liver cancer) is restored effective May 1, 2022. The appeal is granted.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right foot calcaneovarus deformity, finding that there was no clear and unmistakable error in previous rating decisions. The evidence at the time did not support such a claim.

The appeal seeking payment or reimbursement for the cost of medical services performed on November 24, 2020 by Aegis Sciences Corporation is dismissed as the benefit has been approved.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for hyperventilation, light-headedness, nausea, upset stomach, energy condition, and right leg movement as there is no current diagnosis or evidence of functional impairment due to these conditions.

The Board has decided that the Appellant is entitled to reimbursement for non-VA emergency care services provided to the Veteran by BJC Health Care from October 4, 2019 to October 8, 2019. However, due to an error in the calculation of the payment, the Appellant was underpaid. The Board has ordered a remand to correct this error and provide proper notification.