The Veteran's benign neoplasm of the brain stem, left upper extremity impairment, and left lower extremity impairment are all found to be service connected. The Veteran's symptoms were aggravated by exposure to toxic materials during his military service.
The deciding factor: The private medical opinion provided a thorough rationale for finding that the Veteran's symptoms started and were aggravated by exposure to toxic materials during his military service, leading to the conclusion of service connection on an aggravation basis.
- Claimed conditions
- benign neoplasm of the brain stem, left upper extremity impairment, left lower extremity impairment
- How they argued it
- Aggravation of a pre-existing condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 23, 2024
- Citation
- A24027184
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 A24027184.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's request for an effective date prior to December 15, 2023, for the award of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) as there was no factually ascertainable increase in his service-connected disabilities that rendered him unemployable within one year prior to December 15, 2023.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder was granted a rating of 70 percent, and the ratings for his right and left lower extremity impairments were increased to 60 percent, effective July 29, 2016. The claims for higher ratings for upper extremity impairments were denied.
- Granted
The Board granted separate ratings for Parkinson's disease, including a 30 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 8004, and a 100 percent rating for dementia as secondary to the service-connected condition. The Veteran also received separate ratings for voiding dysfunction, upper and lower extremity impairments, and incomplete loss of smell, all as secondary to Parkinson's disease.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an increased disability rating higher than 20 percent for left lower extremity impairment and granted a 40 percent rating, but no higher, for right lower extremity impairment.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.