Other conditions decisions — 2024

Your appeal has been dismissed because the VA approved your claim for payment of medical services provided on December 15, 2018.

The Board granted a claim for an effective date of April 1, 2013, for the award of an increased apportionment of the Veteran's VA benefits on behalf of the appellant. The decision is based on the facts found and the relevant regulations regarding the effective date of increased apportionment.

The Veteran's cause of death, chronic granulocytic leukemia, is found to be related to in-service exposure to herbicide agents. Service connection for the cause of death is granted.

The Board has granted the Veteran's waiver of an overpayment debt in the amount of $3,891.83, finding that it would not be against the principles of equity and good conscience to waive this debt.

The Veteran's death precludes initial eligibility for PCAFC benefits, and the appeal is denied as a matter of law.

The appeal is dismissed because the VA has already approved payment for non-VA medical services provided on July 27, 2020.

The Board has determined that the overpayment of $13,658.97 was improperly created and is therefore granted.

The Veteran's request for VR&E benefits based on her attendance at the International University of the Health Sciences (IUHS) in Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis is denied because IUHS is not an educational institution approved by VA; nor is it a foreign medical school approved by VA.

The appeal is dismissed because the VA has already approved payment for non-VA medical services provided on November 1, 2020.

The Veteran received additional VA dependency compensation on behalf of his minor child, M.J.C., from May 2019 to March 2020. The appellant is granted a special apportionment in the amount of this additional compensation for that period.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance for the year 2020 due to incomplete records and lack of information regarding previous awards. The AOJ is instructed to obtain all relevant records, including those from the 2019 award, and provide the Veteran with any available information about their clothing allowance.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's challenges to the rate of recoupment for his overpayment debt, finding that it falls outside the Board's jurisdiction as a matter of compromise between VA and the Veteran.

The appellant's accrued benefits claim is being remanded as her initial claim was filed within the one-year period following her aunt's death, and she has continuously pursued the claim thereafter. The Board finds that her claim should be deemed timely based on her March 2021 date of claim.

The Veteran's death precludes initial eligibility for PCAFC benefits, and the appeal is denied as a matter of law.

The Board has granted service connection for squamous cell carcinoma residuals, finding that the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents during his military service in Vietnam is related to his current condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error regarding toxic exposure and breast cancer. The Veteran's failure to attend her scheduled VA examination is considered, but a TERA medical opinion is needed to address the relationship between her service-connected conditions and her current diagnosis of breast cancer.

The Board dismissed the appellant's appeals for service connection for Arnold-Chiari malformation type 1, special monthly compensation for aid and attendance, and special monthly compensation for being housebound.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's appeals for Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and postural orthostatic tachycardia as withdrawn by the appellant.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has not been received to reopen the claims for service connection for basal cell carcinoma, colon cancer, soft tissue sarcoma, and ulcerative colitis. As such, these claims are denied.

The Veteran's residuals of right great toe fracture are manifested by no more than moderate symptoms and a rating in excess of 10 percent is not warranted.