Other conditions Board decisions

The Veteran's urticaria was initially rated at a noncompensable level in 1975 and later increased to a 10 percent rating effective October 5, 2023. The Board granted an earlier effective date of October 5, 2022 for the 10 percent rating.

The Veteran's dementia is granted as service connected due to exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for increased ratings of his right hip and thigh disabilities, as well as for a TDIU. The effective date for the right hip rating was set at June 5, 2023, based on the evidence showing an increase in disability within one year prior to that date.

The Veteran's cause of death is due to diffuse bilateral pneumonia, which was found to be caused by exposure to herbicide agents in Iraq. The gastrointestinal cancer that led to his death is presumed to have been caused by the same exposure. Therefore, service connection for the cause of death is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for vision loss, finding that there is no evidence to support a direct relationship between his active duty service and his current vision loss.

The Veteran's appeals for payment or reimbursement of non-VA care provided by Banner, Banner Medic, and North Valley Emergency Specialists (NVES) from November 22-23, 2019, were dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal.

The Veteran's cause of death, a gastrointestinal stromal tumor, is presumed to be related to in-service exposure to burn pits and other toxins during his service in Southwest Asia during the Persian Gulf War. Service connection for the cause of death is granted.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate examinations that did not consider a diagnosis of actinic keratosis, which is claimed by the Veteran. The claim will be reconsidered with new evidence or an adequate examination.

The Board found the VA Committee on Waivers and Compromises (COWC) properly denied the Veteran's claims for a waiver of the recoupment of his overpayment debt. The case is being remanded to determine if the fault in creating the overpayment lies with the Veteran or the Department of Defense.

The Board has decided that the service connection for pyoderma gangrenosum should be remanded due to an inadequate VA medical opinion. The claim will be reconsidered with a new examination and opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for waiver of recovery of an overpayment of $398.00 due to compensation benefits paid for his former spouse after their divorce, finding that recovery would not violate principles of equity and good conscience.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for nervousness and a right ulnar nerve disability, finding no clear and unmistakable error in the August 1955 rating decision.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's eligibility for enrollment in the VA Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) should be remanded due to insufficient medical opinions and incomplete notice provided by the AOJ. The case must be returned to the AOJ for further evaluation, including obtaining a detailed medical opinion from the Centralized Eligibility and Appeals Team.

The Board denied service connection for left and right eye disorders, finding no evidence of a superimposed disease or injury creating additional disability.

The Veteran's appeals for increased disability ratings for service-connected right and left lower extremity conditions have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate these claims as they are moot.

The appeal is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically regarding the medical eligibility criteria for VA's Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC). The Board finds that there are insufficient reasons provided by the Centralized Eligibility and Appeals Team (CEAT) in their decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for residuals of testicular cancer, including urine leakage and erectile dysfunction, is granted with an effective date of June 24, 2020. The initial disability rating for urinary leakage is denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for right tibial sesamoiditis, finding that his current disability resulted from an injury during active duty service and granting the benefit of the doubt in his favor.

Your appeal has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The case will be held in abeyance if a surviving family member requests substitution.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal seeking an earlier effective date for his spouse's dependency status.