The Veteran was granted an initial 10 percent disability rating for xerostomia with loss of sense of taste, which he experienced as a result of his service-connected non-Hodgkins lymphoma. The Board found that the evidence supported this finding and resolved any doubt in favor of the Veteran.
The deciding factor: The Veteran had a complete loss of sense of taste due to treatment for service-connected non-Hodgkins lymphoma, which was confirmed by VA clinicians throughout the appeal period.
- Claimed conditions
- xerostomia, loss of sense of taste
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 19, 2019
- Citation
- 19187135
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,017 · Granted: 36% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 19187135.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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: Denied
The Veteran's claims for service connection for loss of sense of taste, loss of sense of smell, and pelvic condition are denied. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder beyond unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder is also denied.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's tinnitus had onset during active duty service and is granted. The claims for TBI, migraines as secondary to TBI, an eye disability as secondary to TBI, anosmia as secondary to TBI, loss of sense of taste as secondary to TBI, athlete's foot, ingrown toenails, foot pain, joint pain, low back disability, and acne are remanded due to the need for additional examinations.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's xerostomia is not rated compensably, as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's tinnitus remains at its current 10% rating, as no higher rating is available under Diagnostic Code 6260.,Service connection is granted for an acquired psychiatric disability, variously diagnosed as PTSD, claustrophobia, generalized anxiety disorder, and unspecified anxiety disorder.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection on multiple conditions have been remanded due to the submission of new evidence after a prior denial. The Board finds that VA examinations and medical opinions are necessary to properly determine entitlement to service connection.
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