The Board has determined that the Veteran's current speech impediment was not aggravated by active duty service and is not proximately caused or aggravated by a service-connected disability.
The deciding factor: The November 2010 VA examination concluded that the Veteran's stuttering was a developmental problem and not related to his service-connected back injury, nor did it aggravate his stuttering.
- Claimed conditions
- Speech Impediment
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 27, 2011
- Citation
- 1136355
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1136355.
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 decided to remand the case due to a question regarding whether the Veteran's speech impediment is related to his service-connected bilateral hearing loss or another separate condition. The decision also mentions that referral to the Director of Compensation Service may be warranted if it is determined that the speech impediment is caused by the service-connected hearing loss.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has determined that there is no verified in-service stressor sufficient to support a diagnosis of PTSD, and the Veteran's current psychiatric diagnoses do not meet the criteria for service connection.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current left ear hearing loss disability, and thus cannot establish service connection for this condition. The other issues on appeal are denied as there is no evidence of a link between any claimed conditions and service or a service-connected disability.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the veteran's preservice bilateral hearing loss was aggravated by service, warranting service connection for this condition. However, there is no evidence to support a finding of aggravation in his speech impediment due to service-connected bilateral hearing loss.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.