Other conditions Board decisions

The Veteran's spouse was found eligible for Dependents Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits under Chapter 35, Title 38, United States Code. However, the spouse did not apply until October 2020 and was not prevented from initiating or completing her chosen program of education due to a physical or mental disability. Therefore, she is denied an extension of the delimiting date beyond May 15, 2003.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence was received to readjudicate the claim of service connection for a back injury. However, the Veteran's status as 'in-service' is disputed due to lack of documentation of an in-service injury or aggravation. The Board finds no causal relationship between the current disability and any in-service event, thus denying the claim.

The appeal was dismissed because the VA approved the claim for payment of non-VA dental services provided on February 24, 2020.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as there is no longer a case or controversy for decision due to VHA overturning its initial denial and approving the non-VA medical care provided by MSOFS on September 4, 2020, and October 2, 2020.

The Veteran's death was not caused by a service-connected condition, and the Board found no evidence of exposure to herbicides in service. The claim for DIC based on service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death is denied.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for herpes was denied, and the Board has found that the December 2018 VA examination is inadequate due to the lack of findings on flare-ups. The case is remanded for a new examination.

The VA reduced the Veteran's disability rating for service-connected right foot hallux rigidus from 10 percent to noncompensable effective April 1, 2021. The Board found that this reduction was improper due to a failure to address regulatory requirements and restore the original 10 percent rating.

The appeal has been dismissed as the claim for payment of non-VA medical care provided on February 7, 2020, was administratively approved by VA.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for multiple myeloma, including amyloidosis and plasmacytoma. The examiner is requested to provide an addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran's condition is related to his in-service exposure to contaminated soil at Fort Ord.

The Veteran's bunions and related foot conditions are rated at 30 percent each, with the right foot receiving a separate rating for surgical scars. The decision is granted.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for nonservice-connected pension benefits because he did not have active military service during a period of war, and thus was ineligible for these benefits.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal of the issue of entitlement to service connection for pancreatitis.

The Veteran's claims for right lateral epicondylitis and limitation of forearm flexion, as well as nephrolithiasis, were denied in final rating decisions. The Board found that the effective dates should be August 2, 2019.,The Veteran appealed these decisions seeking earlier effective dates. However, the Board determined that the effective dates should remain at August 2, 2019.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's mother is not eligible for dependency benefits due to her income exceeding $400. The decision was based on the current unemployment benefits she receives, but the Veteran's representative claims this amount may have changed. The Board has ordered a remand to obtain updated information from the Veteran regarding his mother's income.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have precluded him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation since August 18, 2010. The Board has granted an earlier effective date of August 18, 2010 for TDIU.

The Veteran's right clavicle fracture/strain disability was not incurred in a combat zone or during combat-related operations, and the VA recoupment of his severance pay for this condition is proper.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error and further development is needed regarding the Veteran's claim for earlier effective date of narcolepsy.

The Board has vacated the decision dismissing the Veteran's claim for benefits under VA PCAFC due to a lack of proper process. The case is now remanded for further review and clarification.

The Veteran is granted more than 13 days of VA educational Assistance benefits under the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program (VRAP) for his degree in Business Administration he received at Medaille College.

The Board has found that the VA examination provided in April 2019 was inadequate and remanded for an addendum opinion to address the Veteran's dry eye syndrome, including its relationship to other diagnosed conditions and whether any of these conditions aggravated his dry eye syndrome.