The veteran's application to establish D.L.D. as a 'helpless child' for VA benefits purposes was denied due to the lack of evidence showing permanent incapacity at age 18. The claims for service connection and reopening were also denied.
The deciding factor: D.L.D.'s HIV/AIDS condition did not render him permanently incapable of self-support by his 18th birthday, as evidenced by his employment status and medical records indicating he was a student prior to the age of 18.
- Claimed conditions
- Bladder condition, Right foot and toe disability, Left foot disability
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 31, 2008
- Citation
- 0844969
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 0844969.
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: Denied
The Veteran's right and left foot disabilities are currently rated at 10 percent each, but the Board found that they do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating under any applicable diagnostic codes.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The appeal for a compensable rating for acne vulgaris is dismissed. Service connection for tinnitus is granted, but the left foot disability claim is remanded.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a bowel condition, and a bladder condition. The Board found no evidence of a current disability for these conditions and concluded that any relationship to service is not supported by the medical evidence.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for a bladder condition, finding that the evidence is not persuasive in establishing a relationship to service or secondary to a service-connected disability.
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