Other conditions decisions — 2025

The Board granted eligibility to attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in a December 20, 2023, RO decision.

The appeal concerning the issue of service connection for arthritis was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities render her unable to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment, warranting a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The appeal for an increased disability rating for lumbar strain was withdrawn by the Veteran before a decision was made.

The Board denied the appellant's claims for survivor's pension benefits, accrued benefits, and DIC based on service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to a lack of evidence supporting a link between the Veteran's active service and his later cause of death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate as he does not meet the criteria due to not having a single service-connected disability rated 100 percent.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including coronary artery disease and prostate cancer, have been found to render him unable to maintain any form of substantially gainful employment consistent with his education and occupational background.

The appeal for accrued benefits was dismissed as the Appellant has been substituted in as to the claims pending at the Veteran's death, making the appeal duplicative.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for lung nodules - right lobe (lung nodules), to include COPD, as further development is necessary before adjudication.

The Board granted restoration of a 10 percent rating for the Veteran's right hip strain with limited flexion and right proximal tibia fracture, but denied a compensable rating for right hip strain with thigh impairment and scars post open reduction internal fixation.

The Board granted the Veteran's claims for clothing allowances for 2020 related to his back brace and bilateral knee braces, but remanded the claims for a wheelchair and ankle braces due to insufficient notice of the basis for denial.

The Board granted a waiver of recovery of an overpayment of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) compensation benefits in the amount of $6,308.81 due to VA's error and delay.

The Veteran is entitled to a total disability rating for compensation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities from July 29, 2020, to May 14, 2021.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher disability rating, TDIU, and earlier effective dates for DEA and SMC.

The Board remands the matter of service connection for a myoclonus disorder, claimed as spinal and psychogenic, due to inadequate development and opinions.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) on an extraschedular basis prior to October 5, 2020, as his service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining relevant non-VA treatment records.

The Veteran's osteoporosis is granted as secondary to his service-connected disc herniation L5-S1, degenerative disc changes at L4-5 and lumbar radiculopathy, DDD with chronic lower back strain, and DDD of the cervical spine.

The Board granted service connection for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma on a direct basis, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's condition was incurred during active duty.

The appeal was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.