The Board has granted service connection for multiple myeloma, a spinal cord disability (including compression fracture and cord compression), and lower extremity paralysis, all of which are found to be related to the Veteran's active military service. The decision also grants secondary service connection for these conditions.
The deciding factor: Service connection was established based on exposure to environmental hazards during service, specifically burn pits in Southwest Asia, and a finding that multiple myeloma is associated with such exposures. Secondary service connection was granted as the spinal cord disability and lower extremity paralysis are found to be related to the now service-connected multiple myeloma.
- Claimed conditions
- multiple myeloma, spinal cord disability (compression fracture and cord compression), lower extremity paralysis
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 25, 2019
- Citation
- 19189029
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 19189029.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple myeloma, finding no evidence that the Veteran's condition was related to his military service.
- Dismissed
The veteran withdrew all claims on appeal, and the Board dismissed the appeal.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple myeloma, finding that the Veteran's condition was caused by his conceded in-service toxic risk exposure activities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the Veteran's claim for service connection for multiple myeloma due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error in not providing the Veteran with a VA examination and medical opinion.
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