Other conditions Board decisions

The Board has dismissed the appeal as there is no authority for the Board to review disputes related to contractual payment rates under Veterans Care Agreements (VCAs).

The Veteran's cause of death was due to glioblastoma multiforme, which is presumed to be related to his exposure to Agent Orange during service. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for DIC under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 as he had no service-connected disability rated as totally disabling at the time of death.

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding the contractual payment rate for home health services provided in March 2020 by a non-VA provider under a Veterans Care Agreement (VCA). The dispute process established by law does not allow for further review by the Board.

The Board denied service connection for gastric ulcers due to the lack of evidence showing a current disability and no in-service disease or injury linked to the condition.

The Board found that the overpayment of $5,366.35 was due to sole administrative error on the part of VA without knowledge of the Veteran, and thus is not a valid debt to VA.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for payment of non-VA medical care provided by Aegis Sciences Corporation (ASC) on January 9, 2021 due to the lack of a prior authorization and the governing statutes and regulations do not allow for Board review in this matter.

The Board dismissed the appeal for payment of non-VA medical care provided by Aegis Sciences Corporation (ASC) on September 20, 2021 because the process for billing under the VCCP does not allow for review by the Board.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance/housebound status has been granted with the earliest possible effective date of July 19, 2022. The appeal is dismissed as there are no remaining issues to be decided.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability evaluation for unspecified mood disorder is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error regarding the severity of his condition from November 12, 2014 to November 2019.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of unauthorized medical expenses incurred during non-VA medical services by American Ambulance on April 28, 2019 due to an emergency condition that was not service-connected and where VA facilities were not feasibly available.

The Board has found a pre-decisional duty to assist error occurred due to inadequate notice regarding the appellant's entitlement to additional attorney fees based on the retroactive CRDP award. The AOJ needs to provide a full accounting of how the amounts were calculated.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as there is no authority for the Board to review disputes related to contractual payment rates under Veterans Care Agreements (VCAs).

The Board has dismissed the appeal as it is governed by a specific dispute process for Veterans Care Agreements (VCAs) that does not allow for further review by the Board.

The Board has identified errors in the duty to assist and is remanding the case for further development, including obtaining medical opinions regarding the Veteran's eligibility for PCAFC benefits.

The Veteran's somatic symptom disorder with predominant pain is rated at 10 percent prior to April 14, 2020. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet criteria for a higher rating due to their mild and transient nature.

The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for right lower extremity peripheral vascular disease (claimed as right leg blood clots) due to a lack of evidence linking the condition to his active service.

The Board has determined that the appeal regarding contractual payment rate for home health services provided to the Veteran is dismissed because it falls under a specific administrative dispute resolution process for Veterans Care Agreements (VCAs) which does not allow for appellate review by the Board.

The Veteran's death was attributed to myelodysplastic syndrome, which the appellant contends is due to herbicide agent exposure during service. The Board found that while the PACT Act presumed exposure in Thailand, it did not establish direct causation and thus remanded for a medical opinion on whether the Agent Orange exposure caused or contributed to the Veteran's death.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of PACT Act examination and opinion for service connection of pulmonary vascular disease, which may be related to toxic exposure during military service.

The Board dismissed the appeal regarding whether the contractual payment rate for home health services provided by MGHAL to the Veteran from February 1, 2020, to February 29, 2020, was proper due to a specific administrative dispute resolution process that does not allow for appellate review.