The Board denied the claim for service connection for multiple system atrophy (MSA) for substitution purposes, as there was no evidence of in-service exposure to Agent Orange and MSA did not have its onset during or within a year after service.
The deciding factor: The evidence failed to establish that the Veteran's MSA had its onset in service or was related to any incident of service, including herbicide exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- multiple system atrophy (MSA)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 6, 2025
- Citation
- 25006111
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 3,319 · Granted: 25% (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 25006111.
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 Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is being remanded for a VA examination. The Board has also decided to remand the claims of service connection for MSA, Parkinsonism with memory loss secondary to MSA, abducens nerve palsy secondary to MSA, autonomic disorder secondary to MSA, axonal neuropathy secondary to MSA, cognitive brain disorder secondary to MSA, cervical spine disability secondary to MSA, coordination/balance disorder secondary to MSA, dysphagic and choking secondary to MSA, fatty liver/pyelonephritis secondary to MSA, fracture rib disability secondary to coordination/balance disorder due to MSA, frontoparietal volume loss secondary to MSA, and hypertension (HTN) secondary to MSA. The claims are being remanded for further evidentiary development.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeals as to service connection for a neurodegenerative disorder, including multiple system atrophy (MSA), cerebellar ataxia, paralysis of the upper and lower extremities, dysarthria, and urinary incontinence due to the death of the Veteran.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's current neurological disability, diagnosed as vasovagal syncope and claimed as multiple system atrophy (MSA), is denied because the evidence does not support a finding of service connection due to lack of exposure to ionizing radiation or other in-service injury.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including a search of missing service treatment records and associated files. The appeal is currently pending due to the Veteran's death.
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