The Veteran's service connection for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) has been granted, as well as secondary service connection for various conditions including chronic fatigue, depression, Raynaud's disease, irritable bowels, respiratory distress, and high grade fevers.,Secondary service connection was also granted for the Veteran's SLE in relation to his claimed disorders of chronic fatigue, depression (including insomnia), Raynaud's disease, irritable bowel syndrome, respiratory distress, and high-grade fevers.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran had Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) as a result of service due to the presence of characteristic manifestations such as a malar rash. The Veteran's symptoms were consistent with SLE, and his VA examiner agreed.,Secondary service connection was granted for each condition secondary to SLE based on medical evidence linking the conditions to the primary disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Chronic fatigue, Depression, Raynaud's disease, Irritable bowels, Respiratory distress, High grade fevers
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 28, 2020
- Citation
- 20007144
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,287 · Granted: 23% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 20007144.
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 Board has remanded the case due to insufficient findings regarding PTSD and depression, requiring a new VA examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to errors in the AOJ's handling of the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder, and depression. The AOJ is required to verify the Veteran's claimed stressor and obtain medical opinions regarding the diagnoses and their relation to service.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Anxiety, and Depression as these conditions are found to be related to the Veteran's active military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's lay statements and medical records are considered in determining whether there is a nexus between current symptoms and service.
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