Other conditions decisions — 2026

The appellant withdrew their appeal regarding the rating for caries/cavities to tooth numbers 3, 5, 8, 9, and 18, and chipped tooth number 10.

The Board denied the Veteran's challenges to the creation and validity of her overpayment debt. The overpayment was found to be properly created, but the amount was recalculated based on a one-year period from October 2, 2019, to October 31, 2020. The waiver claim for recoupment of the overpayment was denied due to fault of both parties and potential financial hardship.

The Board is remanding the case to clarify the specific amount of past-due benefits awarded in the August 2024 rating decision and notify both contested claimants about the retroactive award from which a 20 percent attorney fee is now sought.

The Board denied service connection for residuals of gallbladder removal and gallstones, finding no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active service or presumed exposure to herbicide agents.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a disability rating greater than 30 percent for his service-connected insomnia, finding that the evidence did not show symptoms warranting higher ratings.

The Veteran's CLL is presumed to be related to his service in Thailand due to exposure to herbicide agents, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected colon cancer disability, finding that there is inadequate evidence to support a compensable rating prior to March 23, 2021 and no increase in rating thereafter.

The Veteran's stroke residuals were granted service connection as secondary to his hypertension, with an initial rating of 10 percent effective March 2023. However, due to outstanding government debt, the Veteran did not receive any compensation. The appellant is eligible for direct payment of attorney fees from past due benefits awarded.

The Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder was not manifested by occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas or total occupational and social impairment at any point during the appeal period. The criteria for entitlement to an initial rating higher than 50 percent for service-connected adjustment disorder have not been met.

The Veteran is seeking a remand for the adjudication of his claim regarding clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the assignment of an effective date of August 6, 2003 for his award of total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The AOJ must address this specific contention of CUE.

The Board has granted service connection for myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) due to presumed exposure to environmental hazards during military service, specifically burn pits. The Veteran's MDS is considered presumptively related to his Gulf War service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether obesity is service-connected, specifically as secondary to service-connected disabilities.

The Board dismissed the appeal for an earlier effective date than March 23, 2023 for TDIU as it was previously adjudicated in a previous decision.

The Board has granted a separate compensable rating of 50 percent for insomnia, but the issue of entitlement to a separate rating in excess of 50 percent is remanded for further consideration by the RO.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of August 27, 2024 is granted. M.A.S., the Veteran's dependent child, will receive compensation based on her school attendance from that date.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral eye disability, including cataracts and a choroidal nevus affecting the left eye, is not attributable to active military service.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for recognizing J.W. as the Veteran's child for purposes of additional dependency compensation, finding that the earliest possible effective date was June 6, 2023.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left foot corns, right foot blisters, and right foot corns due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Veteran's right hip pain, muscle spasms, Bell's palsy, trouble breathing, and shaving profile/skin condition are all granted service connection. However, the claims for muscle spasms, Bell's palsy, trouble breathing, and shaving profile/skin condition were denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Veteran seeks earlier effective dates for increased ratings of his service-connected removal of left 1st rib and thoracic syndrome of the left arm, but these claims are denied as there is no legal authority to assign earlier effective dates.,The Veteran also seeks an earlier effective date for a rating increase for fracture of the right clavicle. The claim is denied as well.