The Board has determined that service connection for the cause of the veteran's death due to multiple system atrophy is not warranted as it does not meet the criteria specified in 38 U.S.C.A. § 1116(a) and there is no evidence of a positive association between exposure to herbicide agents and multiple system atrophy.
The deciding factor: Multiple System Atrophy was not among the diseases specified in 38 U.S.C.A. § 1116(a), and the Secretary has not determined, on the basis of sound medical and scientific evidence, that a positive association exists between exposure to herbicide agents and Multiple System Atrophy.
- Claimed conditions
- Multiple System Atrophy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- August 7, 2008
- Citation
- 0826604
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0826604.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted earlier effective dates for the grants of service connection for Congestive Heart Failure and Multiple System Atrophy. However, the issue of basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits prior to August 10, 2022 is inextricably intertwined with these newly established effective dates and requires remand.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for Parkinson's disease and Multiple System Atrophy due to herbicide exposure. Additional evidence is needed, including treatment records from the Mayo Clinic and VA medical center, as well as an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran’s Multiple System Atrophy.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's Parkinson's disease is presumed to be due to in-service herbicide exposure, and service connection for this condition has been granted. The claim for TDIU remains pending.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
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