Citation Nr: A25041271 Decision Date: 05/06/25 Archive Date: 05/06/25 DOCKET NO. 210422-227089 DATE: May 6, 2025 ORDER The appeal for entitlement to payment of beneficiary travel expenses associated with a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) appointment on October 14, 2020, is dismissed. The appeal for entitlement to payment of beneficiary travel expenses associated with a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) appointment on January 14, 2021, is dismissed. FINDINGS OF FACT 1. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Beneficiary Travel Department issued payment for the beneficiary travel claim for the travel associated with the non-VA medical treatment on October 14, 2020. 2. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Beneficiary Travel Department issued payment for the beneficiary travel claim for the travel associated with the non-VA medical treatment on January 14, 2021. CONCLUSIONS OF LAW 1. The appeal for entitlement to reimbursement for beneficiary travel expenses from October 14, 2020, is moot. 38 U.S.C. § 111; 38 C.F.R. §§ 70.4, 70.10, 70.20. 2. The appeal for entitlement to reimbursement for beneficiary travel expenses from January 14, 2021, is moot. 38 U.S.C. § 111; 38 C.F.R. §§ 70.4, 70.10, 70.20. REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS The Veteran served on active duty in the United States Air Force from February 1972 to January 1996. For his meritorious service, the Veteran was awarded (among other decorations) the Meritorious Service Medal and the Air Force Commendation and Achievement Medals. In April 2021, the Veteran filed a VA Form 10182, Decision Review Request: Board Appeal, the Veteran elected the Direct Review docket. Therefore, the Board may only consider the evidence of record at the time of the agency of original jurisdiction (AOJ) decision on appeal. 38 C.F.R. § 20.301. 1. The appeal for entitlement to payment of beneficiary travel expenses associated with a VA appointment on October 14, 2020, is dismissed. 2. The appeal for entitlement to payment of beneficiary travel expenses associated with a VA appointment on January 14, 2021, is dismissed. Generally, VA beneficiary travel is a payment for travel expenses incurred in the United States to help Veterans and other persons obtain care or services from the Veterans Health Administration. 38 U.S.C. § 111; 38 C.F.R. § 70.10. A Veteran is eligible for beneficiary travel payments for travel to or from a VA facility or VA-authorized health care facility for the following: 1) treatment for a service-connected disability, regardless of the disability rating; 2) treatment for any disability, provided that the Veteran has a service-connected disability rated at 30 percent or more; 3) a scheduled compensation and pension examination; 4) if the Veteran receives pension under 38 U.S.C. § 1521; 5) if the Veteran's annual income does not exceed the maximum annual rate of pension that the Veteran would receive under 38 U.S.C. § 1521; or, 6) if, the Veteran is unable to defray the expenses of that travel under certain circumstances. 38 U.S.C. § 111; 38 C.F.R. § 70.10 (a). The Veteran requested travel beneficiary payment for his travel to a VA facility for episodes of care on October 14, 2020, and January 14, 2021. In his VA Form 10182, the Veteran advised the October 14, 2020, beneficiary travel expenses were partially paid but it was an underpayment. He stated the claim for January 14, 2021, beneficiary travel expenses was denied as a duplicate claim. He advised he never received compensation. During the pendency of this appeal, the claims were reprocessed for payment. The evidence of record reflects VA Beneficiary Travel department processed payments for beneficiary travel expenses for the episodes of care October 14, 2020, and January 14, 2021. The record reflects for the episode of care on October 14, 2020, beneficiary travel expenses were approved in the amount of $150.58 and the record reflects the claim was submitted for payment. For the episode of care on January 14, 2021, beneficiary travel expenses were approved in the amount of $135.75 and the record reflects the claim was submitted for payment. As the underlying issue of whether the Veteran was eligible for reimbursement for travel benefits for the Veteran's travel was resolved during the pendency of the appeal, there is no case or controversy for the Board to adjudicate, and the appropriate course of action is to dismiss the present appeal as to this date as moot. Cardona v. Shinseki, 26 Vet. App. 472, 474 (2014) (citing Padgett v. Peake, 22 Vet. App. 159, 164 (2008) (en banc)). In this case, the record indicates that the AOJ has reviewed and administratively approved payment for the beneficiary travel expenses for the episodes of care on October 14, 2020, and January 14, 2021, representing a full grant of the benefits sought in this appeal. As a result, there is no remaining allegation of error of fact or law for appellate consideration in the present appeal. See 38 C.F.R. § 20.104. Accordingly, the Board no longer has jurisdiction over the appeals, and they are therefore dismissed. See 38 U.S.C. § 7104. If the decisions concerning these episodes of care regarding the payment amount issued is disagreeable to the appellant, the Veteran may file a separate/additional appeal of that subsequent decision. As the Veteran is in receipt of the benefits sought on appeal, the Board finds that the issue of entitlement to reimbursement for beneficiary travel benefits on October 14, 2020, and January 14, 2021, is moot. Accordingly, these issues are dismissed. Evan M. Deichert Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans' Appeals Attorney for the Board J. Mouzakis, Counsel The Board's decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.