Other conditions decisions — 2026

The Board has granted an effective date of August 6, 2023 for PCAFC benefits due to the need for personal care services and cognitive impairments.

The Board has granted service connection for interstitial fibrosis with bronchiectasis, finding that the Veteran's condition is related to in-service exposure to TERA and asbestos. The decision is based on a presumption under the PACT Act.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, requesting to pursue a supplemental claim instead. As a result, the Board dismissed the appeal.

The Veteran's claims for effective dates prior to October 26, 2016, for TDIU and SMC based on housebound criteria are being remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. The Board finds that VA did not obtain relevant Social Security Administration (SSA) records which could be pertinent to the claims.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and TDIU are remanded due to the need for additional development, including an in-person examination. The SMC issue is also remanded as it is intertwined with the other issues.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Board found that the reduction of the Veteran's nonservice-connected pension benefits, effective May 1, 2007, was proper based on an adjustment to his family countable income. The Veteran's annual countable income exceeded the maximum annual pension rate (MAPR), leading to a reduction in his pension benefits.

The Board dismissed the issue of the reasonableness of agent fees awarded to R.B. based on past-due benefits awarded in a September 2019 Rating Decision due to claims processing defect.

The Board has found that the appellant, who is a stepfather of A., did not provide legal documentation to show his custody status of A. and thus the apportionment claim was denied. The Board finds it necessary to remand this matter due to an incomplete application by the appellant on behalf of A.

The Board has dismissed the claim for service connection for bruxism due to a concurrent election error.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's colon cancer is at least as likely as not attributable to his military service, specifically exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. As a result, the claim for service connection for colon cancer is granted.

The Board has determined that the AOJ's decision denying the Appellant's October 2024 Apportionment Claim was incorrect due to errors in considering relevant evidence and failing to notify the Veteran of the claim. The matter is being remanded for further action.

The Veteran's claims for travel payments to and from non-VA dental appointments on April 3, 2025, and November 5, 2025 are granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for an adequate medical decision and to correct pre-decisional errors. The matter is being returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to comply with prior instructions regarding the appellant's mental state at the time of his misconduct leading to discharge. The case will be reviewed based on evidence from the date of the March 31, 2025 decision.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for colon cancer. A new examination is needed to determine if his current condition is related to his military service, including any potential exposure to toxins.

The Board has determined that the reduction of pension benefits from December 1, 2017 was not proper and has granted a higher rate of pension with special monthly pension starting from January 1, 2020.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of a pelvic or groin injury is denied as there is no evidence of an in-service event, injury, or disease and the Veteran has not provided competent medical evidence to support his claims.

The Board dismissed the motion to revise or reverse the December 2014 rating decision that established June 30, 2014 as the effective date for the grant of service connection for Hodgkin's lymphoma because there was no final decision for the Board to review based on CUE.

The Board denied the claims for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), nonservice-connected (NSC) survivor's pension benefits, and accrued benefits due to lack of standing as a surviving child or executor of the Veteran's estate.