Other conditions decisions — 2026

The Board has granted service connection for chronic heat exhaustion and heat cramps as secondary to the Veteran's now service-connected chronic heat exhaustion.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for waiver of indebtedness due to the approval of his waiver. The Board has dismissed the appeal as a result.

The Board has decided that the appellant is not eligible for attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in an August 2024 rating decision. The appeal is remanded to clarify the amount of past-due benefits and notify both parties.

The appeal for service connection for cause of death is dismissed due to the Appellant's death.

The Board denied service connection for cold weather injuries of the feet and a respiratory disability, finding no evidence of such conditions during or after service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of left cubital tunnel syndrome status post cubital tunnel release is dismissed as a matter of law due to the finality of prior rating decisions and the one-year appeal period.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for a skin condition and bilateral elbow conditions (claimed as arthritis to entire joint system) are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding potential TERA exposure. The skin condition claim is denied, while the elbow condition claim is pending further review.

The Veteran's claims for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for cardiomyopathy and an initial compensable rating for a scar from a pacemaker implant are being remanded due to the need for clarification regarding his congestive heart failure.

The Board has granted service connection for costochondritis, finding that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the condition is related to in-service chest pain.

The Board has restored the Veteran's disability rating for his service-connected left hernia ilio inguinal nerve entrapment from 0 percent to 10 percent effective April 1, 2021. The reduction was improper due to lack of material improvement in the Veteran's condition under ordinary conditions of life.

The Veteran's cause of death was listed as emphysema, but the Board found no causal connection to service or a service-connected disability. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for chondromalacia patella, patellofemoral pain syndrome right is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error in the evaluation of his service-connected knee disability.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of esophageal cancer has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran and the lack of an order granting substitution.

The Board has granted service connection for bilateral shin splints, finding that the Veteran's current condition likely began during his active duty.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's character of discharge from service due to AWOL for a continuous period of at least 180 days is not a bar to VA monetary benefits, thus granting the claim.

The Veteran's travel expenses for a non-VA medical appointment on March 12, 2025, are granted. However, reimbursement for meals related to this travel is denied due to lack of pre-approval.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded to conduct a financial audit for retroactive pay of dependents' benefits.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as moot due to a VA decision finding the appellant solely responsible for an overpayment debt. The issue of refunding an invalid $791.67 debt related to books and supplies is remanded for further action.

The Board has decided that the overpayment of a housing allowance was valid, but did not provide sufficient details on how the amount was calculated. The Veteran's claim is being remanded for further clarification.

The Veteran's left leg disability, specifically shin splints, is granted as service-connected. The initial rating for TBI and headaches are also granted at a 10% level, with the forehead scar rated at 10%. The case is remanded for further evaluation of other issues.