The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for ptosis and neurofibromatosis, finding that both conditions pre-existed service and were not aggravated by military service. The Board also found that there was no clear and unmistakable evidence to rebut the presumption of soundness at entry into service.
The deciding factor: The Board determined that the Veteran's ptosis and neurofibromatosis disabilities existed prior to his military service, and any increase in severity during service was due to natural progression rather than aggravation by service activities.
- Claimed conditions
- ptosis, neurofibromatosis
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 21, 2020
- Citation
- 20068271
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,858 · Granted: 24% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 20068271.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral eye condition should be remanded due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors and the need for an updated TERA Memorandum. The Veteran was not provided with a VA examination, and her allegations of exposure during basic training were not addressed.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's left eye ptosis rating was reduced from 30% to 10%, effective July 1, 2021, based on improvement in visual field.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
Your appeal has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The claims for service connection have not been decided.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted service connection for neurofibromatosis and remanded the issue of service connection for osteoarthritis (including back disability).
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