Other conditions decisions — 2025

The Board granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance from October 2019 until the Veteran's death in April 2024.

The Veteran is granted outpatient dental treatment due to his 100 percent combined evaluation for compensation, but service connection for a dental disability related to wisdom teeth extraction during service with ongoing jaw pain is denied.

Service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and entitlement to service-connected burial benefits are granted based on the link between liver adenocarcinoma and in-service toxic exposure.

The Board denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to December 16, 2016.

The Board dismissed the Veteran's motion for revision of a decision on clear and unmistakable error (CUE) due to insufficient specificity in the allegations.

The Board remands the issue of whether the character of the Veteran's discharge for the period of service from June 21, 2007 to June 26, 2009 is a bar to receiving VA compensation benefits.

The Board denied entitlement to an effective date prior to December 26, 1996, for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as there was no persuasive evidence that the Veteran was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities during this period.

The Board denied service connection for right and left pes cavus, finding that the conditions preexisted service and were not aggravated by it.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of August 20, 2022, for the increased evaluation of 50 percent for psychiatric disability and for the award of TDIU and DEA benefits. The claim for an earlier effective date prior to May 3, 2024, for the increased evaluation of 20 percent for back disability was denied.

The appeal for recognition of C. as the Veteran's dependent spouse for VA compensation purposes has been withdrawn and is dismissed.

The appeal for an earlier effective date for TDIU and DEA benefits was dismissed due to lack of jurisdiction over the underlying claims.

The Veteran is granted an earlier effective date of April 3, 2020, for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disability (TDIU) and eligibility for DEA benefits under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35.

The Veteran's neurocognitive disorder was granted a 100 percent evaluation from August 10, 2022, due to psychiatric symptomatology more nearly approximating total occupational and social impairment.

The Board granted service connection for adhesions, benign cyst of right ovary, and endometriosis, resolving all doubt in favor of the Veteran. The claims for an earlier effective date were denied.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of September 10, 2020, for the grant of a 100 percent disability rating for schizophrenia and eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for accrued benefits due and payable to the Veteran's surviving adult child, as well as the request for substitution.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for dementia to correct pre-decisional duty to assist errors and obtain additional medical evidence.

The Board remands the claims for an earlier effective date for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death and basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error in not obtaining complete Social Security Administration records.

The appeal was dismissed due to improper concurrent elections of issues that were already pending before the Board.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for a 20 percent rating for right elbow strain based on limitation of flexion and a separate 10 percent rating for right elbow strain based on limitation of supination and pronation, as there was no evidence that these conditions worsened prior to February 24, 2021.