The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for polymyositis as there was no evidence of a current diagnosis and the symptoms were attributed to his already service-connected conditions.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support a finding that the Veteran had polymyositis or related symptoms causing impairment in earning capacity, and the symptoms were attributed to his service-connected fibromyalgia, cervical spine disorders, and lumbar spine disorders.
- Claimed conditions
- polymyositis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 9, 2024
- Citation
- 24001498
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for polymyositis and GERD, both of which are related to the Veteran's service-connected esophageal cancer.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for polymyositis, sleep apnea, type II diabetes mellitus, right and left ankle disabilities, as well as higher initial ratings for radiculopathy of the left sciatic nerve, left femoral nerve, and degenerative changes in both knees.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for polymyositis and dermatomyositis due to exposure to anthrax vaccine, as it is unclear whether these conditions are related to military service. The VA examiner must provide an addendum opinion addressing the relationship between the Veteran's in-service anthrax vaccine exposure and his current diagnoses.
- Dismissed
Your appeal regarding the DRO review election for your polymyositis claim has been dismissed as there is no longer a pending adverse determination to address.
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