The Veteran's pernicious anemia and Vitamin B12 deficiency are found to have onset during his military service, meeting the criteria for direct service connection.
The deciding factor: A VA hematologist opined that there was a 50 percent or greater probability that the Veteran’s Vitamin B12 deficiency or associated pernicious anemia had its onset during his military service, considering his in-service elevated MCV and MCH levels and his use of proton pump inhibitors for GERD.
- Claimed conditions
- pernicious anemia, Vitamin B12 deficiency
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 29, 2018
- Citation
- 18154383
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 18154383.
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 Veteran's claim for service connection for pernicious anemia is being remanded due to a duty-to-assist error in the previous VA medical opinions. The Board requests additional clarification on whether the condition was incurred during service or related to his hypertension.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to acute congestive heart failure, which was caused by hypertension and coronary artery disease. The Board found that the vitamin B-12 deficiency, a service-connected condition, contributed substantially or materially to the development of these conditions.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection for pernicious anemia, vitamin B12 deficiency anemia, and iron deficiency anemia (anemia) is denied as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and pernicious anemia, and the Board dismissed both appeals.
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.