Other conditions decisions — 2024

The Board has granted service connection for schizoaffective disorder, finding that it is a superimposed disease stemming from the Veteran's personality disorder. The decision also remanded the claim for entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for cause of death and squamous cell carcinoma due to the appellant's death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the cases due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the Veteran's pinguecula and because adjudication of the increased rating claim could impact his TDIU claim.

The Veteran's rectal cancer is found to be causally related to his military service, including exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. Service connection for rectal cancer is granted.

The appeal for survivor's pension benefits is dismissed because the appellant passed away before a decision could be issued.

The Veteran's pancreatic cancer is granted as service connected due to exposure to burn pits in Vietnam.

The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and effective dates were denied. The rating for urinary incontinence with tract infections was not granted above 60 percent, while the rating for TMJ dysfunction was not granted above 40 percent. Effective date claims for TDIU and DEA benefits were also denied.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than December 5, 2018 for the assignment of a 100 percent rating for his right and left lower extremity peripheral vascular disease based on clear and unmistakable error (CUE) is being remanded due to procedural issues.

The Veteran requested to withdraw their appeal regarding the reimbursement of a VA home loan funding fee. The Board has dismissed the appeal as it is not in its jurisdiction.

Your appeal for reimbursement or payment for non-VA medical services provided on September 22, 2020 has been dismissed as the benefit sought has already been granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error regarding the Veteran's VA compensation benefits being improperly withheld. The AOJ must provide an audit and accounting of the benefits paid in light of the correction to his Naval Records regarding his discharge and retirement.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal before the Board could make a decision, so the case is dismissed.

The Veteran's disability rating for hypogonadism with testicular abnormality was reduced from 20 percent to noncompensable effective October 1, 2019. The claim for restoration of the 20 percent rating is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for aggravation of nose condition to include deviated nasal septum, operated, now claimed as nose surgery, residuals from broken nose is granted. The Board found new and relevant evidence since the prior denial, including information about an altercation in basic training that led to injury.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to the Board's decision.

The Board has remanded the claim of radiculopathy and is denying a rating in excess of 30 percent for the left femur disability due to lack of evidence showing hip ankylosis, thigh flexion limited to 10 degrees or less, a hip flail joint, femur nonunion, a false joint, knee ankylosis, or leg extension limited to 30 degrees or more.

The Veteran seeks eligibility for VA home loan guaranty benefits. The claim is remanded due to missing procedural documents and incomplete file.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of survivor's pension benefits with aid and attendance, finding that the appellant did not receive a formal or informal claim within one year of her admission to a skilled nursing facility. The Board also noted that she was unaware of the existence of survivor's pension benefits until October 2021.

The appeal is dismissed because the VA has already approved payment of medical expenses for June 15, 2019.

The Veteran's annual income exceeds the maximum annual pension rate, so he is not eligible for VA pension benefits.