The Board found that the appellant was not a 'helpless child' at age 18 due to his ability to support himself through his own efforts, despite having some health conditions and disabilities.
The deciding factor: The appellant did not demonstrate permanent incapacity for self-support prior to reaching 18 years of age based on his SSA records and medical history which showed he was capable of supporting himself even after the onset of certain health conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- leg injury (gunshot wound), hypertension, obesity, gout, sleep apnea, asthma, arthritis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 2, 2018
- Citation
- 1807025
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 1807025.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
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- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to conflicting opinions regarding service connection for peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and skin disabilities related to herbicide exposure.
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