The Board has determined that the Veteran's autoimmune disorder, including systemic lupus erythematosus and atypical connective tissue disease, is at least as likely as not caused by silicone breast implants she underwent during active duty service.
The deciding factor: The evidence is in equipoise regarding whether the Veteran's silicone breast implants are responsible for her autoimmune disorder. The Board has resolved this doubt in favor of the Veteran.
- Claimed conditions
- autoimmune disorder, systemic lupus erythematosus, atypical connective tissue disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 10, 2017
- Citation
- 1744922
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 1744922.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate development of her exposure history and lack of adequate medical opinions. The case will be returned to the AOJ for further action.
- Granted
The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea and gastroesophageal reflux disease are found to have onset during service, meeting the criteria for service connection.,Service connection is granted for these conditions. The Veteran's Raynaud's disease and autoimmune disorder are not found to be related to service.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for an autoimmune disorder and TDIU due to the lack of evidence showing a nexus between any current autoimmune condition and the Veteran's period of active service or service-connected disabilities. The Board found that the Veteran was not unemployable based on his service-connected conditions.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, and systemic lupus erythematosus as there was no evidence of onset during active service or etiological relationship to an in-service injury, event, or disease.
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