Other conditions decisions — 2024

The Board has decided to remand the claim for eligibility of PCAFC benefits due to errors in notification and a need for further medical assessment. The AOJ will conduct necessary assessments, including the Veteran Assessment, Caregiver Assessment, and Veteran Functional Assessment Instrument prior to issuing an eligibility determination.

The Board has granted an increase in the amount of apportionment to 20 percent of the Veteran's VA compensation benefits for the appellant, on behalf of herself and S.D., finding that this would not result in undue hardship to the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the onset and etiology of the Veteran's myelodysplastic syndrome, including any potential service-related exposures.

The Veteran's schizoaffective disorder is rated at 100% effective March 8, 2013. The VA has also granted an earlier effective date of March 8, 2013 for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits due to the service-connected disability.

The Board dismissed the claim for payment or reimbursement of non-VA medical services provided by the appellant to the Veteran on July 31, 2019, as the care was authorized through the TriWest program and the appellant was notified of this authorization in September 2021. The claim is now moot.

The Board has remanded three claims: increased ratings for service-connected right and left knee disabilities, and a claim of entitlement to service connection for loss of teeth. The remand is due to incomplete VA examinations and the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case due to outstanding private treatment records not being associated with the claims file. The appellant's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) is pending and will be reconsidered after obtaining any missing records.

The Veteran's appeal for an effective date prior to April 19, 2017 for the increased 70 percent evaluation of their service-connected unspecified trauma-related disorder with adjustment disorder with mixed anxious and depressed mood has been dismissed as the Board has already adjudicated these issues in July 2021 and March 2023.

Your appeal has been dismissed because the VA AOJ administratively approved your claim for payment of medical services provided to you by Aegis Sciences Corporation on June 16, 2020.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding the effective dates for TDIU and DEA, thus the cases are dismissed.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to an error in the validity of his debt resulting from withdrawal and reduction of credit hours at CSU-GC. The Board must review this issue and prepare a memorandum justifying the debt's validity.

The Board granted service connection for spinal fusion and assigned a 40% rating effective January 22, 2021. The decision was based on the Veteran's original claim submitted in 2007.

The Board has found that the AOJ committed a pre-decisional duty to assist error by failing to associate the Veteran's Veterans Health Administration (VHA) claim file with the electronic record. The matter is REMANDED for obtaining and associating all relevant documentation from the VHA file pertaining to the Veteran's claim for a clothing allowance.

The Board has determined that the September 2023 decision denying eligibility for PCAFC was legally inadequate and remanded to obtain a new medical determination considering all medical information of record.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an apportionment of his VA compensation benefits to cover expenses related to their child, G.H., due to the appellant not demonstrating financial hardship and the Veteran providing some support.

The appeal for payment or reimbursement of non-VA prescriptions was dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's limitations in performing his activities of daily living are consistent with being unable to sustain himself in the community, and therefore, Level 2 stipend benefits under the PCAFC are granted.

The Veteran's left foot disability, previously service-connected as bone fractures, is now rated at 30 percent effective from the date of the decision.

The appeal for payment of the cost of non-VA medical imaging provided on December 23, 2019, is dismissed because a partial payment was made and no further disagreement remains.

The Veteran's disability rating for impairment of supination and pronation of the right elbow was reduced without following due process requirements. The Board has restored the original 20 percent disability rating.