Other conditions Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of medical expenses incurred at the Mayo Clinic Rochester on October 29, 2014, is denied as there was no prior authorization and the treatment did not meet the criteria for emergency treatment under VA regulations.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected bilateral foot fungus disability is remanded due to the inadequacy of the January 2020 VA examination. The Board finds that additional development, including a retrospective opinion on the severity and treatment of the condition during the appeal period, is needed.

The Board has restored service connection for unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder, effective from the date of the severance.

The appeal is dismissed because the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal, and the Board cannot issue a decision on the underlying claim at this time.

The appeal is denied because the non-VA medical services provided on February 26, 2021 were not authorized by VA and there was no legal basis for payment.

The appeal is dismissed as the VHA has already corrected and paid for the underpayment of non-VA medical care provided by HHHC to the Veteran from June 1, 2019, to June 30, 2019.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his claim for service connection for essential blepharospasm, and the Board dismissed it as a result.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for payment or reimbursement of non-VA medical services provided on December 21, 2019, as both claims were initially denied but later authorized through the Office of Community Care. The Veteran is advised to file an appeal with TriWest regarding these claims.

The appeal is dismissed as the administrative action approving payment for non-VA medical services from October 1, 2019, to March 31, 2020, constitutes a reversal of the prior denial and a full grant of the benefit sought.

The Board dismissed the appeal because MedTech Billing Service, Inc., which did not provide the medical services in question, filed a Notice of Disagreement (NOD). The claim was paid and is now moot.

The Veteran's effective date for dependency compensation for his spouse is denied as proof of dependents was not provided within one year of the qualifying rating decision.

The Veteran's death was not recognized as a surviving spouse for VA benefits due to the legal impediment of common law marriage in Ohio, despite the appellant and Veteran having an intent to marry. The Board found no valid common-law marriage or other exception to the one-year requirement.

The Board has determined that the burial benefits application file is incomplete and requires additional records to be obtained before a decision can be made.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient notice provided by the AOJ in their decision regarding payment or reimbursement for non-VA medical services. The appellant must be given proper notice as required by law.

The appeal is denied as there was no VA authorization for the non-VA medical services provided on February 12, 2021.

The Veteran seeks an earlier effective date for additional dependency compensation for his current spouse and minor stepchildren, but the Board finds that such dates are not warranted due to lack of timely notification.,The Veteran's claim for additional dependency benefits was granted on March 16, 2022, with payment starting April 1, 2022. The effective date is based on when VA received notice of the dependent's existence.

The appeal is denied as there is no legal basis for payment of medical expenses incurred on February 23, 2021.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for cold injury residuals of the bilateral ears is being remanded due to a lack of a VA examination and opinion regarding whether his current ear pain may be related to service.

The Board denied the appeals for payment of non-VA medical expenses incurred on February 9, 2021 and February 12, 2021 due to a lack of VA authorization.

The Veteran's non-VA medical expenses incurred on July 22, 2020 were denied as there was no VA authorization for the services.