The Veteran's child was granted Level IV benefits under 38 C.F.R. § 3.815 for a birth defect that prevented age-appropriate self-care and caused inappropriate communication, behavior, and social interaction.
The deciding factor: The Board found the appellant had residual physical and mental effects of his covered birth defect which sometimes prevented age-appropriate self-care and his communication, behavior, and social interaction were inappropriate for his age.
- Claimed conditions
- neural tube defects, syringomyelia, hydromyelia, Chiari malformation with hydrocephalus, tethered spinal cord
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 4%
- Decision date
- May 5, 2020
- Citation
- 20031269
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 20031269.
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 claims for additional development to address whether the Veteran's acquired neurological disorder, including Arnold Chiari malformation and syringomyelia, is related to his service. The muscle inflammation claim due to Persian Gulf service is also being remanded.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for syringomyelia and associated residuals, including sleep apnea, was granted with an effective date of April 25, 2005.,Service connection for voiding dysfunction and bowel dysfunction (associated with syringomyelia) was also granted with an effective date of January 1, 2008.
- Denied
The Veteran's service connection claims for various conditions, including right and left leg disabilities, central neuropathic pain, chronic urinary tract infections (UTIs), syringomyelia, chronic constipation, takotsubo cardiomyopathy, deep vein thrombosis of the left leg, and functional dextroscoliosis and thoracic kyphosis have all been denied.,The Board found that there is no medical evidence showing a nexus between any of these conditions and the Veteran's service.
- Partly granted
The Veteran was granted a separate 30 percent rating for syringomyelia, but the claims for higher ratings for cervical spine degenerative arthritis and for separate or compensable ratings for sinus conditions were denied.
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