Other conditions decisions — 2025

The appellant was denied recognition as the Veteran's surviving spouse for purposes of entitlement to survivor's pension because she and the Veteran were divorced at the time of his death.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for additional VA educational assistance benefits under Chapter 33, as he has already received a total of 81 months of education benefits.

The Board remands the case to adjudicate eligibility for enrollment in the PCAFC program, as the current decision lacks a legally adequate medical opinion.

The Board remands the claim for payment or reimbursement of ambulance expenses incurred on December 1, 2022, due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error and missing records.

The Veteran's surviving spouse, T., is recognized as a proper substitute claimant to continue pending unadjudicated claims.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder, claimed as chronic granulomatous disease, to schedule a TERA examination and readjudicate based on the new evidence.

The Board remands the claim for an allowance for an automobile or other conveyance and adaptive equipment due to a need for a current examination to assess the severity of the Veteran's service-connected residuals of a left index finger injury.

The Board remands the claim for further adjudication of eligibility to enroll in the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC).

The Board denied entitlement to Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits and death pension, as the Appellant was not considered a parent under VA regulations. The issue of accrued benefits is remanded for further development.

The appeal regarding the propriety of the award of attorney fees to E.S., based on past-due benefits, is denied. The issue of reasonableness of the awarded fees is remanded for further review.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a sinus condition and fatigue, finding no current diagnosis of chronic sinusitis or chronic fatigue syndrome.

The Board granted the appeal as to the timeliness of the May 2017 NOD with respect to a May 2016 rating decision confirming and continuing the previous denial of service connection for fibromyalgia, waiving the claim processing rule violation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to June 22, 2023, as there was no formal or informal claim for TDIU before that date and the Veteran was already receiving a 100 percent combined disability rating.

The Board granted recognition of the Appellant as the Veteran's surviving spouse for VA benefits purposes, based on a valid common-law marriage from May 2022.

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

The Board remands the claim for service connection of Crohn's disease to obtain a medical opinion regarding its etiology in relation to the Veteran's Gulf War service.

The appeal for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD was dismissed as a matter of law due to it being a freestanding claim that cannot be reviewed.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 60 percent for the right shoulder disability.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for gastritis to obtain a direct and secondary medical opinion.

The appeal for payment or reimbursement of non-VA medical expenses incurred on May 11, 2021, was dismissed due to untimely filing.