The Veteran's claims for service connection for ocular cicatricial pemphigoid and Sjögren's syndrome, both claimed as due to undiagnosed illness, were denied. The appeal is based on the presumption of service connection for undiagnosed illnesses in Persian Gulf War veterans.
The deciding factor: The Veteran did not provide sufficient evidence to establish that her conditions are related to active duty service or a known clinical diagnosis.
- Claimed conditions
- ocular cicatricial pemphigoid, Sjögren's syndrome
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 2, 2018
- Citation
- 1827464
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 1827464.
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
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran's Sjögren's syndrome rating was reduced from 100% to 10%, but the Board found clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in this decision, restoring the original 100% rating effective October 1, 2010.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU, finding that her service-connected conditions did not prevent her from securing and following gainful employment.
- Denied
The Veteran's Sjögren's syndrome and leukocytoclastic vasculitis with hypergammaglobulinemic purpura of Waldenstrom were rated at 60 percent disabling, based on symptoms more nearly approximating exacerbations lasting a week or more, 2 to 3 times per year. The appeal is denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinion regarding the etiology of Sjögren's syndrome, and new evidence may be needed.
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