Other conditions decisions — 2026

The Veteran's death benefits claim for the appellant as his surviving spouse was denied because she and the Veteran were not legally married for at least a year prior to the Veteran's death, and there is no evidence of common law marriage. The appellant also did not have any children with the Veteran.

The Board denied the claim for recognition as the Veteran's surviving spouse due to a lack of evidence showing a valid marriage, despite the appellant claiming common law marriage. The Veteran was known to have been in a caregiver relationship with the appellant and had provided financial support to her.

The Board dismissed the appeal regarding attorney fees awarded to Marc Whitehead based on past-due benefits from an April 2025 rating decision because Marc Whitehead waived his right to those fees, and the amount was released to the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination focusing on his service-connected disabilities and their impact on his eligibility for benefits, as well as his need for aid and attendance.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for left breast cancer, finding that her current disability resulted from in-service toxic exposure risk activities (TERAs). The positive and negative evidence is at least approximately balanced or nearly equal.

The Board has determined that the reduction of nonservice-connected death pension benefits effective January 1, 2021 was proper based on a change in countable income.

The Board has decided that an earlier effective date for the award of special monthly compensation (SMC) under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) is denied, and has remanded the issue of entitlement to a compensable rating for Female Sexual Arousal Disorder (FSAD).

The Veteran's cause of death was determined to be motor neuron disease with respiratory failure. The Board found that the Veteran had an ALS diagnosis and granted service connection for his cause of death, as it resulted from a motor neuron disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development related to toxic exposure claims, specifically jet fuel and asbestos exposure. The AOJ must determine if the Veteran participated in any TERA (Toxic Exposure Risk Activity) based on his service duties and locations.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations and evaluations.

The Board has granted service connection for pulmonary embolism as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected status post spigelian herniorrhaphy, finding that the surgery increased her risk of developing a pulmonary embolism.

The Veteran's claim for a rating greater than 40 percent for his low back disability was denied, and the Board granted entitlement to TDIU based solely on service-connected low back disability.

The Veteran's daughter, S., is awarded dependency benefits based on school attendance from August 4, 2023 to December 15, 2023; and from August 21, 2024 to May 15, 2025.

The Veteran's overpayment of VA compensation benefits due to retroactive removal of additional dependent spouse benefits has been corrected, and the issue is dismissed as moot.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's request for waiver of recovery of an overpayment of VA compensation benefits due to incarceration should be remanded for further action.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's stroke and its residuals are related to his service in Southwest Asia, given the PACT Act provisions.

The Veteran's skin disability is remanded for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his condition, including whether it is related to service or toxic exposure risk activities. The Veteran also needs to provide authorization forms for private treatment records.

The Veteran is seeking a remand for the AOJ to adjudicate his claim of CUE in the July 2009 rating decision that assigned a noncompensable disability rating for Bennett's fracture, right thumb.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for left hand pain is being remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. The Board will need to provide an adequate medical opinion regarding the relationship between the Veteran's claimed condition and his military service, including exposure to burn pits.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for multiple myeloma and back problems due to a duty to assist error. For multiple myeloma, the Veteran's exposure to asbestos is not verified. For back problems, an addendum opinion is needed to consider the Veteran's lay statements regarding her training-related injuries.