The Veteran's claim for service connection for muscular dystrophy was reopened and granted. Service connection for a neurological disorder of the lower extremities, presumed to be due to exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam, is also granted.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the evidence supports the conclusion that the Veteran’s neurological disorder of the lower extremities is likely related to his presumed exposure to herbicides while stationed in Vietnam.
- Claimed conditions
- muscular dystrophy, neurological disorder affecting the lower extremities (claimed as peripheral neuropathy and muscular dystrophy)
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 6, 2019
- Citation
- 19192042
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 19192042.
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.
- Partly granted
The Board vacated its previous decision and remanded the service connection claims for muscular dystrophy and diabetes mellitus type 2. The claim for muscular dystrophy was reopened due to new evidence, but the issue of service connection remains pending. The claim for diabetes mellitus type 2 is still being considered.
- Granted
The Board has reopened the claim for service connection due to new evidence provided by the veteran's physician, which suggests that his muscular dystrophy first manifested during his period of active service. The Board found that this evidence is significant enough to consider in deciding the merits of the claim.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to missing records and a need for further medical evaluation to determine if the veteran's muscular dystrophy is service-connected.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claim for service connection for a neuromuscular disability, finding no evidence of such disability during or within one year after service. The Board also found no presumptive service connection based on herbicide exposure.
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