Other conditions decisions — 2026

The Board has determined that the March 2025 decision denying eligibility for PCAFC benefits is legally inadequate and requires further development. The Veteran's caregiver needs to be reassessed by VA medical professionals to determine if he qualifies for PCAFC benefits based on his need for personal care services, supervision or protection, and other relevant factors.

The Veteran's VR&E benefits were denied as he did not meet the hardship criteria to attend training and education overseas at RUSM in Barbados.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hernia inguinal, left due to a lack of evidence showing a causal relationship between his active-duty service and the condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for pelvic pain was granted with an effective date of November 7, 2022.

The Board found that the reduction of pension benefits was not proper due to a failure to schedule a hearing, and thus restored the benefits.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in fulfilling VA's duty to assist, including not obtaining the full court-martial file and service personnel records. The AOJ is required to attempt to obtain these documents and make a new character of discharge determination using the revised regulations.

The appeal to determine the propriety of terminating the Veteran's nonservice-connected pension benefits, effective April 1, 2024, is dismissed due to a concurrent election for review.

The Veteran's service-connected narcolepsy with cataplexy requires regular aid and attendance, resulting in a finding of need for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on aid and attendance.

The Veteran's overpayment of VA compensation benefits is denied because she was at fault for not promptly reporting her marital status changes, and recovery would result in undue hardship.

The Veteran's SMC benefits based on the housebound rate under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) are restored from August 1, 2023, and an effective date of October 2, 2012, is granted for this benefit.

The Veteran's dependents were removed from his award due to failure to verify dependency. They were later added back, with S. being removed due to a divorce.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for loss of feeling in both his left and right hands, finding new and relevant evidence that raises a theory of entitlement not previously addressed. However, the Board denied the claims due to the lack of current disability documentation.

The Board found that the claim for payment of non-VA care was timely filed, and thus granted the Veteran's request. The decision is based on the timeliness of the claim rather than service connection.

The Board dismissed the appeal as there is no justiciable case or controversy due to the appellant already receiving DEA benefits.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's vision disorder is related to his service and grants service connection for this condition.

The Board has granted service connection for a low back disability (spondylolysis, L5-S1) based on aggravation by service. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder secondary to the service-connected low back disability was denied.,The Veteran's low back disability is presumed to have existed prior to service and was aggravated during service.

The Veteran's chronic otitis externa has been rated at a 10 percent disability level, effective from the date of the decision.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as there is no remaining case or controversy regarding the duration of school attendance for M.S. after he stopped attending college.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal for service connection of pruritus ani, which was secondary to ulcerative colitis. The Board granted the withdrawal and dismissed the issue.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development and need for additional opinions regarding the Veteran's eye disorder, specifically related to service at Camp Lejeune.