The appellant's sickle cell anemia and thalassemia were not manifested during service, and the Board finds that they are not related to his military service.
The deciding factor: There is no clear and unmistakable evidence of pre-existing sickle cell traits or thalassemia at entry into service. The appellant's conditions do not meet the criteria for presumptive service connection due to hereditary conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- Sickle Cell Anemia, Thalassemia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 27, 2009
- Citation
- 0919636
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0919636.
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- Granted
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- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection for various disabilities are being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for a left shoulder/arm disability, right shoulder/arm disability, left foot/ankle disability, and right foot/ankle disability are being remanded. The examiner must consider exposure to toxins in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations as well as whether any of his claimed disabilities are unexplained illnesses or MUCMIs.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral ear pain, sinusitis, lung mass, and pneumonia are being remanded. The examiner must consider whether these symptoms are related to his service in the Southwest Asia Theater of Operations, including consideration of whether they are undiagnosed illnesses or MUCMIs (including fibromyalgia).,The Veteran's claims for service connection for an enlarged heart, hematochezia, and colon polyps are being remanded. The examiner must consider whether these conditions began during or are related to his active duty service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for thalassemia is being remanded. The examiner must determine if the condition is a congenital defect or disease and whether it was incurred or aggravated by service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's vertigo and sickle cell anemia did not meet the criteria for extraschedular disability ratings prior to January 2, 2013.,The Veteran was not assigned a disability rating that is independently 60 percent disabling in addition to a total disability rating prior to October 18, 2017. The Board also found that he did not meet the criteria for TDIU prior to January 2, 2013.,The Veteran's need for aid and attendance was remanded due to a duty to assist error.
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