The Veteran's claim for service connection for TBI is granted. The claims for Dercum's disease, acromegaly, right and left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, hypermobility syndrome, testicular/inguinal hernia (left inguinal fat pad hernia), male hypogonadism, respiratory disability, mast cell disorder, hemolytic anemia, and TMJ are all denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's TBI claim is granted based on the presumption of exposure in Southwest Asia. The other claims for Dercum's disease, acromegaly, carpal tunnel syndromes, hypermobility syndrome, hernia, hypogonadism, respiratory disability, mast cell disorder, hemolytic anemia, and TMJ are denied due to insufficient evidence linking these conditions to service or service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Dercum's disease, Acromegaly, Right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, Left wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, Hypermobility syndrome, Testicular/inguinal hernia (left inguinal fat pad hernia), Male hypogonadism, Respiratory disability (dyspnea), Mast cell disorder, Hemolytic anemia (claimed as narcotic-induced anemia), Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ)
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 9, 2021
- Citation
- 21041517
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 21041517.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and its residuals, including unsteady gait, somnolence, and cognitive dysfunction. The decision is based on the Veteran's credible lay statements about in-service head injuries and subsequent seizures.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and therefore, service connection for TBI is denied.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance due to service-connected TBI with PTSD is granted, effective September 6, 2018.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for special monthly pension (SMP) based on the need for aid and attendance is granted due to his cognitive impairment resulting from a motor vehicle accident in 2018, which has rendered him unable to work and needing assistance with daily activities.
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