Other conditions decisions — 2026

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for hepatocellular carcinoma, which is secondary to hepatitis C, has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as the Veteran has already received payment for travel to and from the VA outpatient treatment he received on October 9, 2020.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of liver cancer has been dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has not been presented to readjudicate the previously denied claim of service connection for connective tissue disease. The PACT Act requires a VA examination or medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's diagnosed connective tissue disease and his presumed exposure to herbicide agents, including Agent Orange.

The Veteran's appeal seeking an initial compensable rating for bilateral carotid artery stenosis is dismissed. A separate 10 percent rating is granted for supraventricular arrhythmia (paroxysmal atrial fibrillation). The appeal of the VA notification letter regarding his March 2025 supplemental claim for SMC (A&A) is also dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for travel reimbursement of ambulance transportation provided on December 11, 2020, was denied as he did not meet the eligibility criteria under VA regulations.

The Board found clear and unmistakable error in the December 2018 rating decision that granted service connection for right and left hip strains, resulting in a reduction to noncompensable ratings effective June 27, 2018.

The Veteran's cause of death is granted as service-connected, with the issue of DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 being dismissed due to the grant of service connection.

The Board has restored the 10 percent ratings for left hand index finger swan neck deformity with open tuft fracture of the distal phalanx due to crush injury and left hand long finger swan neck deformity, effective February 1, 2023.

The Veteran's right hand weakness of all fingers was first manifested in March 2021, and entitlement arose at that time. The effective date for the award of service connection is set to November 29, 2021.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in fulfilling VA's duty to assist, including obtaining service personnel records and conducting a formal character of discharge determination with a compelling circumstances analysis.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for recurring deep vein thrombosis is being remanded due to the failure to consider new evidence and provide a medical nexus opinion regarding the relationship between his current condition and service, including exposure to toxic environmental risks (TERA).

The Board has determined that the Veteran's epididymitis was incurred during service and granted service connection for this condition.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the appellant withdrew it due to the Veteran directly paying him the fees.

The appeal regarding your right hip degenerative joint disease was dismissed because the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has granted the claim for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to AL amyloidosis, which was presumed to be related to his in-service exposure to herbicide agents. The Veteran's death certificate noted that AL amyloidosis contributed substantially or materially to his death.

The Veteran's service-connected Parkinson's disease has resulted in disability equivalent to the functional loss of use of both feet and hands, entitling him to SMC at the rate provided by 38 U.S.C. § 1114(l) for loss of use of the feet and 38 U.S.C. § 1114(m) for loss of use of the hands.

The appeal for beneficiary travel expenses related to the Veteran's September 15, 2022 episode of care is dismissed as the underlying issue has been resolved and payment was processed in November 2022.

Your initial claim for a compensable disability rating for obstructive airway disease has been granted, and you are now receiving the maximum disability rating of 100 percent since January 12, 2018. The appeal is dismissed as moot because your condition has already been fully addressed.

The Board has received a withdrawal request from the appellant, and thus the appeal is dismissed.