The Veteran's son, P.M., was diagnosed with autism disorder. However, the Board found that he was not permanently incapable of self-support prior to reaching 18 years of age.
The deciding factor: P.M.'s diagnosis of autism disorder alone is insufficient to establish permanent incapacity for self-support before attaining 18 years of age.
- Claimed conditions
- Autism Disorder
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 10, 2021
- Citation
- 21028259
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 21028259.
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: Granted
The Veteran's daughter, D.D., is recognized as a 'helpless child' and the apportionment benefits for her are reinstated.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's child, K.F., is recognized as a helpless child due to her permanent incapacity for self-support prior to reaching the age of 18 years old, primarily attributed to autism disorder.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and further medical evaluation is needed. The Veteran's son, D.H., needs a medical opinion on his incapacity for self-support prior to age 18.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for his TDIU due to service-connected disabilities, finding that the earliest date as of which it is factually ascertainable that an increase in disability had occurred was April 1, 2016.
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