The Veteran's son is not eligible for compensation due to birth defects or spina bifida because the mother was not a Vietnam veteran, and there is no evidence of spina bifida in the appellant.
The deciding factor: The appellant does not meet the requisite criteria for eligibility for benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1815 as he is not the child of a biological mother who is a Vietnam veteran or has been diagnosed with spina bifida.
- Claimed conditions
- spina bifida, lower back and hip problems, foot problem, rash
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 2, 2020
- Citation
- 20037785
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 20037785.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
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 claim for service connection for a rash associated with herbicide exposure was denied as he does not have a current rash disability.
- Whole decision: Denied
The claim for benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1805 for a child born with spina bifida is denied because no new and relevant evidence has been submitted to support the claim.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for prostate cancer and rash, finding that the Veteran did not serve at Camp Lejeune where exposure to contaminated water is presumed. The conditions are deemed unrelated to service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied benefits for spina bifida and other covered birth defects because the Appellant does not have a diagnosis of spina bifida, her mother is not a Vietnam Veteran, and there is no legal basis to grant benefits.
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