Other conditions decisions — 2026

The Veteran's herpes simplex II was rated as noncompensable, and the Board denied an initial compensable rating due to the condition affecting less than 5 percent of his entire body and exposed areas.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for service-connected dystonia is remanded due to incomplete pre-decisional duty to assist error and unclear nature of symptoms.

The Board finds that the character of discharge from service does not constitute a bar to VA benefits, as there were compelling circumstances mitigating the misconduct. The Appellant's service was characterized by honorable aspects and PTSD stemming from an in-service stressor.

The Veteran's claims for compensation benefits for a lung disability and TDIU are being remanded due to errors in the initial adjudication process.

The Board has determined that the termination of apportionment benefits for child N. was improper due to a lack of proper notice and process, and thus restored the apportionment in the amount of $687 per month.

The Board has determined that additional evidence is needed to address the Veteran's claims for service connection for gastrointestinal disability, right inguinal hernia, hiatal hernia, and bilateral hearing loss. The claims are being remanded for further development.

The Board has granted a 20 percent evaluation for the Veteran's service-connected right hip disabilities, effective January 11, 2021. The Veteran was previously assigned separate ratings based on limitation of extension (5251), flexion (5252), and abduction/adduction (5315-5253).

The Board denied service connection for left elbow pain, right elbow pain, left hip pain, and right hip pain due to lack of evidence showing a current disability within one year of discharge from active duty or that the conditions were incurred in or caused by service.,For right elbow pain, the Board found no current disability as there was no complaint or treatment for an elbow condition during service or since. For left and right hip pain, the Board found no evidence showing a current disability within one year of discharge from active duty or that the conditions were incurred in or caused by service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is not entitled to higher NSC pension benefits payments from January 2020 to September 2020 due to insufficient evidence of income and medical expenses.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeals for payment or reimbursement of non-VA emergency care at Tuality on November 3, 2019, and VCCP care at Hillsboro on October 18, 2019, as these claims have been paid in full.

The Veteran's colon cancer is related to his service, specifically his exposure to herbicides during active duty. The Board has resolved reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran and granted service connection for his intestinal neoplasm (claimed as colon cancer).

The Veteran's need for supervision, protection, or instruction on a continuous basis due to memory loss and the need for back surgery has been recognized. The Board has granted a Level 2 stipend under VA's PCAFC program.

The Board has denied service connection for bruising due to lack of a current diagnosis. The claims for breast tumors, gall bladder condition, and colon polyps are remanded as the evidence does not include an opinion on their relationship to active duty service or any toxic exposures.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions and a failure to obtain private treatment records. The Veteran's intestinal condition is being evaluated for service connection, with consideration of whether it was caused or aggravated by his service-connected anxiety disorder.

The appeal for eligibility to attorney's fees based on past-due benefits awarded in a July 2025 rating decision has been dismissed as the appellant withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran was ordered to pay child support for the Beneficiary, but did not do so. The Board found that this constituted a failure to reasonably discharge his responsibility for support and granted an apportionment of 20% of the Veteran's VA benefits to the Appellant on behalf of the Beneficiary.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for right hip trochanteric bursitis, left hip trochanteric bursitis, right iliotibial band inflammation, and left iliotibial band inflammation due to a duty-to-assist error in obtaining private treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 26, 2024 for the award of service connection for somatic symptom disorder was denied. The Board found no evidence of a prior claim and concluded that the earliest possible effective date is August 26, 2024.

The Veteran's pulmonary embolism and its residuals were not caused by VA carelessness, negligence, or similar fault. The Board found no additional disability due to VA fault.

The Board has granted a $1,500 apportionment of the incarcerated Veteran's withheld monthly VA compensation benefits to the appellant on behalf of their minor children L.B.D. and L.G.D., based on their need for support due to the Veteran's incarceration.