Other conditions Board decisions

The Board has remanded the case due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically regarding private podiatric treatment records. The Veteran is asked to provide these records for further review.

The Veteran's appeals for special home adaptation and specially adapted housing were dismissed because the Notice of Disagreement was not filed within one year of the May 1, 2020 rating decision.

The Veteran's daughter requested a medallion for her father's gravesite, but VA provided a flat bronze marker instead. The Board denied the claim as there is no legal basis to award a medallion since a marker has already been provided.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of ambulance transportation services on August 9, 2020 is remanded due to incomplete records and issues regarding timely filing and third-party claims.

The Veteran's service-connected mood disorder was rated at 70% effective February 1, 2021. He also received a TDIU award effective the same date.

The appeal for reducing the evaluation of somatic symptom disorder from 70 percent to 50 percent effective May 1, 2021 is dismissed because a higher rating of 100% was granted on March 2, 2021.

The Board dismissed the appeal as it pertains to a contractual payment for medical services provided by Barnes Jewish Hospital, finding that the applicable statutes and regulations do not allow for Board review of such payments.

The Board has dismissed the appeal regarding the contractual payment rate for home health services provided by the appellant from March 2 to 31, 2020. The dispute is governed by a Veterans Care Agreement (VCA) and does not allow for review by the Board.

The Veteran's tonsil cancer is being remanded for a VA examination to determine if it is related to his exposure to Agent Orange during service. The PACT Act requires this examination as the Veteran has already been conceded exposure to toxic exposure risk activities (TERA).

The Veteran's rating for residuals of NHL, including chemotherapy-induced diarrhea/bowel pattern change, was reduced from 100% to 30%, effective October 1, 2021.

The Board has granted readjudication of the claims for service connection for left and right pelvic conditions due to new evidence received since the previous denial. The claims are now remanded for further development, including a VA examination.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of May 3, 2004 for the grant of service connection for a muscle group XXII injury of the neck with retained shrapnel. The Veteran filed an informal claim in May 2004 and subsequent VA examinations associated with that claim determined he had neck pain related to his in-service shrapnel wound.

The appeal is dismissed as the AOJ administratively approved the claim for payment of non-VA medical services provided to the Veteran in January 2020.

Your appeal for a higher disability rating for Crohn's disease has been dismissed because the issue was not yet decided by the AOJ when you filed your appeal.

The Veteran's surviving spouse is recognized for the purposes of receiving VA survivor's pension benefits.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to an error in creating the overpayment debt and the need for a detailed audit. The validity of the debt will be determined, and then the issue of waiver will be reconsidered by the Committee on Waivers and Compromises (COWC).

The Veteran's appeal for payment of non-VA medical services provided by Aloha Care, Inc. from March 2, 2021 to March 30, 2021 is dismissed as the process for billing and payment under the Veterans Community Care Program does not allow for Board review.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as there is no provision for review of payment rates for non-VA medical services provided through the Veterans Community Care Program.

The Board has determined that the Veteran is entitled to SMC at a higher rate as of September 9, 2015. However, the rating for his left upper extremity compartment syndrome with fasciotomy remains unchanged and requires further examination.

The Veteran's former spouse, S.M., was granted additional compensation benefits as a dependent for the period from October 18, 2011 to March 22, 2018.