The Board has granted service connection for alopecia areata and loss of use of a creative organ (low sperm count) due to herbicide exposure in the form of Agent Orange. The Veteran's claims were supported by credible lay evidence, including his testimony at hearing and statements from family members.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that there was 'insufficient evidence to create a nexus' because it is not possible to determine retrospectively when the Veteran had the onset of low sperm count, but the Board concluded in favor of service connection based on credible lay statements and testimo
- Claimed conditions
- alopecia areata, loss of use of a creative organ (low sperm count)
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 17, 2011
- Citation
- 1119009
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 1119009.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for alopecia areata was dismissed because she submitted a request for Higher Level Review (HLR) before filing her Notice of Disagreement, which constitutes an impermissible concurrent election.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for an increased disability rating for other specified stressor and trauma related disorder, as well as service connection for alopecia areata, were both denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a 100% disability rating for the former condition or establish service connection for the latter.
- Granted
Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is granted.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability, to include as due to exposure to ionizing radiation, asbestos, and lead paint, is denied.,Service connection for alopecia areata, to include as due to exposure to ionizing radiation, asbestos, and lead paint, is denied.,Secondary service connection for fatigue (claimed as fatigue) is granted.,Secondary service connection for cognitive slowing (claimed as memory and concentration difficulties) is granted.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for hair loss (alopecia areata) as secondary to service-connected prostate cancer. The Veteran's other claims of service connection for various conditions related to Gulf War exposure were denied.
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