Other conditions Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for service connection of right and left foot corns and calluses, finding no legal basis to assign such a date.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error regarding the Veteran's claimed in-service asbestos exposure, which is not related to his throat cancer.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left thigh muscle condition, right calf muscle condition, and right elbow condition due to a lack of current diagnoses.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a right leg disability, finding that there is no current evidence of a right leg disability or functional impairment related to her active service.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 10 percent for joint pain and stiffness due to an undiagnosed illness, including whether separate ratings are warranted for bilateral hands and wrists, is remanded due to a duty to assist error. A retrospective VA musculoskeletal assessment is needed.

The Board has determined that there are outstanding records related to the claim for nonservice-connected burial benefits and remands the case to ensure all relevant files have been obtained.

The Veteran's waiver request for overpayment was denied due to his failure to update his financial status report, which did not reflect the income and expenses of his current spouse. The Board has ordered a remand to allow the Veteran to provide an updated FSR.

The appeal for payment or reimbursement of non-VA medical services provided on August 1, 2019 is dismissed because the claimant (Firm Revenue Cycle Management) did not have proper standing to file a Notice of Disagreement.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a failure by the AOJ to obtain an adequate VA medical examination and opinion, which was required in order to determine if there is CUE in granting service connection for a deviated nasal septum. The Veteran's claim will be returned to the AOJ for further action.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various finger conditions are denied. The Board found no current diagnosis of loss of fine motor skills in the fingers and concluded that the Veteran's symptoms were related to his cervical strain with degenerative joint disease, which is separately service connected.

The Veteran's atrial fibrillation was previously granted service connection on a presumptive basis due to herbicide agent exposure in Korea. The AOJ now proposes to sever this service connection, and the Board is remanding the case for further evaluation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for initial compensable ratings for right and left shin splints as there was no evidence of treatment for 12 consecutive months or more during the claim period.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for payment or reimbursement of non-VA medical services provided by appellant on October 20, 2020, and November 17, 2020. The claims were denied due to lack of authorization but were processed and paid according to VA policy.

The Veteran's appeals for an earlier effective date for TDIU and SMC based on aid and attendance/housebound were dismissed due to untimely filing of the VA Form 10182, which was more than one year after the respective rating decisions.

The Veteran's travel to a VAMC on June 25, 2024, was for an emergency medical situation. The Board found that her income did not exceed the maximum annual rate of pension (MAPR), thus granting reimbursement.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's cancer of the small intestine (also claimed as neuroendocrine cancer), finding that his exposure to herbicides in Vietnam and/or contaminants at Camp Lejeune is likely related to his condition.

The Veteran's claims for beneficiary travel benefits associated with medical appointments on September 5, 2023, and October 4, 2023 are being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The AOJ must correct the errors by obtaining all relevant documentation and evidence, including call records related to the Veteran's claims.

The Board has determined that the VA certificate of eligibility for Chapter 33 educational assistance benefits was issued incorrectly, as it only considered two periods of active duty service without clarifying all periods. The appeal is remanded to correct this error and clarify the nature and dates of the Veteran's periods of active duty service.

The Veteran's claims for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person and SMC on account of being housebound have been dismissed as moot due to the grant of SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another person.

The Veteran's claim for payment of unauthorized non-VA ambulance transportation services provided on October 7, 2020 is being remanded due to the need for additional evidence and proper development under applicable regulations.