The Board granted the appellant's request for direct payment of attorney fees from past due benefits awarded in a June 2022 rating decision granting entitlement to service connection for back and bilateral hip disorders.

The deciding factor: The Federal Circuit found that a supplemental claim is part of the same case as the initial rating decision, allowing for attorney fees regardless of when the supplemental claim is filed.

Claimed conditions

back, bilateral hip disorders

How they argued it

Secondary to another service-connected condition

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

January 8, 2025

Citation

A25002052

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