Other conditions decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of pulmonary fibrosis with severe restrictive lung disease was denied as the evidence did not meet the requirements to establish entitlement prior to March 1, 2022.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for a higher rate of payment of pension benefits and an earlier effective date for the award of nonservice-connected pension with special monthly pension.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for eligibility to benefits under the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC). The Board dismissed the case as a result.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of prostate disability (pre-cancer) as there is no evidence to support a causal relationship between his military service and the condition.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of private medical records from St. Katherine's hospital, which may contain information relevant to determining if service connection is warranted for cause of death.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for nonservice-connected pension, total individual unemployability (TDIU), and a rating in excess of 70 percent for borderline personality disorder due to the Veteran's death.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the claim was administratively approved and paid by VA within the 90-day filing deadline.

Your claim for service connection of a right hand disability has been dismissed as the Veteran died during the appeal process.

The appeal for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to November 22, 2019 is dismissed as the issue has already been fully addressed under the Legacy appeals process.

The Veteran's child did not have any pending claims for accrued benefits at the time of his death, nor was there any money owed him under existing decisions. The claim is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a prostate condition and secondary service connection for voiding dysfunction to the extent it is related to the service-connected prostate condition.

The Veteran's right elbow olecranon bursitis and common extensor tendon tear are currently rated at 10 percent, but the Board finds that a higher rating is not warranted as his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a greater disability rating.

The Board has granted a 30 percent disability rating for the Veteran's rectal fistula in ano status post-surgery, effective from July 21, 2020. The evidence shows occasional involuntary bowel movements necessitating the wearing of pads, but no extensive leakage or complete loss of sphincter control.

The appeal for non-VA medical services provided by the appellant Shepherd's Staff In-Home Care from September 3, 2019, to September 30, 2019 is dismissed as the episode of care was approved under 38 U.S.C. § 1703.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal before the Board could make a decision on her service connection claim for a psychiatric condition.

The Veteran's esophageal cancer is found to be related to his service exposure to Agent Orange, and the claim for service connection is granted.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the January 9, 2019 rating decision was issued before the effective date of the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA). The proper legacy appeal will be addressed in a separate REMAND.

The Veteran withdrew all his issues pending on appeal, and the Board dismissed the case as a result.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for cause of death and DIC benefits, finding that there was no evidence to support a causal link between his gallbladder cancer and liver metastasis and his military service. The Board also determined that he did not meet the criteria for DIC benefits due to lack of continuous total disability rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for rectal incontinence and urinary incontinence due to nerve damage, as they are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected back disability. The case is being returned for an adequate opinion regarding the nature and etiology of these conditions.