Other conditions decisions — 2026

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU). The Board dismissed the case as a result.

The Veteran's claim for reimbursement of travel expenses incurred on November 15, 2024 is remanded due to missing documentation. The AOJ must obtain and upload any relevant documents including the ambulance bill and payment records.

The Board denied payment or reimbursement for non-VA medical services due to the Veteran's failure to seek immediate medical attention and because no emergency treatment was provided.

The Veteran is granted an increased Level 2 stipend under the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) due to his need for supervision, protection, or instruction on a continuous basis.

The Veteran's spouse, E., was added as a dependent to his VA disability compensation award effective May 1, 2022. The claim was continuously pursued within one year of the initial denial.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for adjustment disorder with chronic depressed mood, resulting in the dismissal of this issue.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for dysthymia due to inadequate medical opinions and the need for a new examination.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of information regarding whether the Veteran experiences ankylosis in her right hip, which could affect her disability rating. The case will be returned for further evaluation and clarification.

The Board has restored a 100 percent rating for the Veteran's non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, effective April 1, 2025.

The Veteran's xerostomia with difficulty swallowing and difficulty speaking is now rated at 10 percent, effective as of the date of this decision. The claim for a separate rating for dental or oral conditions due to xerostomia was denied.

The VA has denied the appellant's claims for higher ratings for his service-connected left and right hip strains, finding that he is already in receipt of the maximum schedular ratings available for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU is remanded due to insufficient detail in the previous VA examinations, and a new examination is needed to assess his ability to work.

The Veteran's service-connected cardiac disability (supraventricular arrhythmia, premature atrial contractions, and premature ventricular complexes) has been rated at 10 percent since November 15, 2018. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on the number of episodes or treatment interventions per year.

The Board has granted a waiver of overpayments of educational assistance benefits under Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill) in the amounts of $760.84 and $5,866.62 due to the Veteran's actions resulting in the creation of the overpayment, which were lessened by his account of events and VA's prompt corrective action.

The Veteran and the appellant were divorced in October 2022, making the appellant ineligible for an apportionment of the Veteran's VA disability compensation.

The Veteran's claim for waiver of overpayment due to the removal of her spouse as a dependent is remanded. The VA must provide an accounting and audit of her dependency payments, correct any pre-decisional duty to assist errors, and adjudicate her waiver request.

The Board has decided that the file is incomplete and there are legal deficiencies in the decision regarding eligibility for PCAFC benefits. The appeal is being remanded to ensure a complete record, proper notice of the decision, and an adequate medical opinion.

The Board has granted a waiver of recovery for the overpayment of $15,061.25 due to VA's failure to withhold attorney fees from past due benefits awarded in August 2017. The Appellant was found not at fault and her financial hardship is acknowledged.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities prevent him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment for the entire period on appeal, meeting the schedular criteria.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of adequate examination, and further evaluation is needed to determine if the Veteran's heart disability had its onset during active service or is related to any incident of service.