Other conditions Board decisions

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's polycythemia vera was caused by his service exposure to ionizing radiation, and thus grants service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's partial left femoral nerve injury is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Board has decided to remand the DIC claim due to the need for a toxic exposure risk activity (TERA) opinion and development consistent with the PACT Act.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for left hip strain is being remanded due to a duty-to-assist error identified during the review process.

The appeal is denied as the non-VA medical services provided on February 22, 2022 were not authorized by VA and thus no legal basis for payment exists.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error and insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's mental health conditions. The AOJ is required to obtain additional VA treatment records and schedule the Veteran for a psychiatric examination.

The Board has remanded the accrued benefits claim due to a failure of duty to assist, specifically regarding reimbursement for fees paid by the Appellant to an assisted living facility.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for urinary frequency as secondary to his service-connected lumbar spine disability, finding that new and relevant evidence supports this decision.

The Board dismissed the appeal for payment of non-VA emergency medical services provided on July 17, 2020, as the appellant's claim was administratively approved and paid in full.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for right foot brachymetatarsia of the 4th toe, finding that it is a congenital defect and not subject to service connection.

The Veteran's claim for an extension of the delimiting date beyond September 30, 2020, for VA educational assistance benefits under Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill) was denied as none of the limited circumstances allowing for such an extension are applicable in this case.

The Veteran's claim for an extension of the delimiting date beyond September 30, 2020, for VA educational assistance benefits under Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill) was denied as none of the limited circumstances allowing for such an extension are applicable in this case.

The Board denied the veteran's appeal, finding that his discharge from service was under other than honorable conditions due to being AWOL for over a year. The board concluded there were no compelling circumstances to mitigate this prolonged absence and thus upheld the bar on VA benefits.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for his service-connected herpes simplex is being remanded due to the need for a VA skin examination.

The Board has granted service connection for an unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder, finding that the Veteran's symptoms meet the criteria for this condition due to military sexual trauma during his active duty. Service connection for PTSD was not established as per DSM-5 criteria.

The Veteran's appeals for earlier effective dates for Dependents' Educational Assistance and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability have been withdrawn, resulting in the dismissal of these claims.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of circumcision and a head disability characterized by dizziness, severe, sharp head, neck and lower back pain are remanded due to the failure to obtain complete service treatment records and provide VA examinations.

The Board has determined that the eligibility for benefits under the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) should be remanded due to a lack of adequate review in the July 2023 decision. The Veteran and his spouse contend that he is eligible for PCAFC, but the July 2023 determination found he did not meet eligibility criteria as there was no evidence supporting continuous personal care services for six months or need for regular supervision.

The Board has granted service connection for a sleep disorder, finding that the Veteran's carpal tunnel syndrome with nerve damage is causally related to his sleep impairment.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for loss of sense of smell should be remanded due to inadequate VA medical opinions and missing records. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.