These decisions have made a big impact on how VA disability claims are handled, giving veterans more chances to get benefits and clearing up important issues.
Service Connection
Frost v. Shulkin (2017)
This case established that for secondary service connection claims, the primary service-connected disability does not need to be service-connected or diagnosed at the time the secondary condition is incurred 1. This allows veterans to potentially receive secondary service connection for conditions that developed before their primary condition was officially service-connected.
Saunders v. Wilkie (2018)
The Federal Circuit ruled that pain alone, without an accompanying diagnosed condition, can constitute a disability for VA compensation purposes if it results in functional impairment 1. This overturned previous precedent that required an underlying pathology for pain to be considered a disability.
Effective Dates
Martinez v. McDonough (2023)
This case dealt with the denial of an earlier effective date for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) 2. It addressed issues around the validity of appeal withdrawals and the consideration of cognitive impairment in such decisions.
I met with a VSO today at my VA Hospital who was very knowledgeable and very helpful. We decided I should submit a few new claims which we did. He told me that he didn't need copies of my military records that showed my sick call notations related to any of the claims. He said that the VA now has entire military medical record on file and would find the record(s) in their own file. It seemed odd to me as my service dates back to 1981 and spans 34 years through my retirement in 2015. It sure seemed to make more sense for me to give him copies of my military medical record pages that document the injuries as I'd already had them with me. He didn't want my copies. Anyone have any information on this. Much thanks in advance.
Caluza Triangle – Caluza vs Brown defined what is necessary for service connection. See COVA– CALUZA V. BROWN–TOTAL RECALL
This has to be MEDICALLY Documented in your records:
Current Diagnosis. (No diagnosis, no Service Connection.)
In-Service Event or Aggravation.
Nexus (link- cause and effect- connection) or Doctor’s Statement close to: “The Veteran’s (current diagnosis) is at least as likely due to x Event in military service”
Question
Berta
"FINDINGS OF FACT
1. A November 1983 Board decision denied service connection
for residuals of a postoperative discectomy at L3-L4.
2. In January 1986, the Board found that the previously
denied claim of service connection for a low back disability
had been reopened by submission of new and material evidence
but determined that the evidence of record did not establish
a new factual basis for granting service connection.
3. Of record before the Board in January 1986 was a March
1985 service department investigation report which determined
that the veteran sustained a back injury on May 1, 1982, in
the line of duty.
4. Evidence on file at the time of the Board's January 1986
decision undebatably shows that the inservice back injury
during INACDUTRA was productive of disability.
5. The January 1986 Board decision involved misapplication
of the law or VA regulation to the extent that it did not
accept the March 1985 investigation report as binding on VA,
and the misapplication of law resulted in an undebatably
incorrect decision."
from: http://www.va.gov/vetapp06/files3/0611534.txt
This veteran had clear evidence of line of duty injury that the BVA had initially failed to consider.
This one is great!
http://www.va.gov/vetapp06/files4/0620947.txt
"In the February 1982 decision, the Board concluded that the
schedular criteria for an increased rating for schizophrenia
had not been met and that the schizophrenia did not preclude
substantially gainful employment"
However:
The Board's decision of February 1982 involved CUE with
regard to both the reduction of the 70 percent rating for
schizophrenia and the TDIU termination. Accordingly, the
February 1982 Board decision is reversed and the RO is
directed to reinstate the 70 percent rating for
schizophrenia, effective the date of the reduction, and to
reinstate the veteran's former TDIU rating, with an effective
date of May 1, 1980, the date that the TDIU rating was
terminated.
ORDER
Restoration the 70 percent rating for schizophrenia and the
TDIU rating on the basis of CUE in the Board's decision of
February 11, 1982, is granted.
(26 years of retro---I sure am glad the veteran fought this) decided July, 2006.
____________________________________________
Gary L. Gick
Veterans Law Judge, Board of Veterans' Appeals
GRADUATE ! Nov 2nd 2007 American Military University !
When thousands of Americans faced annihilation in the 1800s Chief
Osceola's response to his people, the Seminoles, was
simply "They(the US Army)have guns, but so do we."
Sameo to us -They (VA) have 38 CFR ,38 USC, and M21-1- but so do we.
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