The Board has determined that the Veteran's lipomas are not related to his service, including exposure to ionizing radiation. The evidence does not support a finding of in-service onset or connection.
The deciding factor: The September 2015 VHA opinion concluded that there is no medical evidence of lipomas (other than by the Veteran's report) until many decades after service and that the Veteran's claim for service connection based on exposure to ionizing radiation lacks support from scientific literature.
- Claimed conditions
- Multiple lipomas
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 8, 2015
- Citation
- 1551285
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 1551285.
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: Granted
The Board granted an earlier effective date of February 1, 2008 for the grant of service connection for multiple lipomas due to a claim of clear and unmistakable error in a previous rating decision.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of February 1, 2008, for service connection of multiple lipomas of the abdomen, back, right arm, and right shoulder has been granted.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's service connection claim for multiple lipomas (Dercum's disease) is granted as the condition began during his military service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for multiple lipomas, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, right ear hearing loss, and ischemic heart disease due to herbicide exposure. The evidence did not meet the criteria for these conditions.
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.