The Board granted the appellant's eligibility for direct payment of attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in the May 2024 rating decision for rhinitis, but denied it for left and right hip strain (claimed as bilateral hip condition).

The deciding factor: The May 2024 rating decision was not the result of an appeal of a prior decision for rhinitis, allowing fees to be charged, while it was the initial decision on the issue of bilateral hip condition, disallowing fees.

Claimed conditions

rhinitis, left and right hip strain (claimed as bilateral hip condition)

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

10%

Decision date

March 4, 2025

Citation

A25019637

Want to see how appeals like this one tend to go? Appeals like mine