The Board granted service connection for dermatomyositis, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.
The deciding factor: The May 2017 VA examiner provided a positive nexus opinion based on the rarity of the illness and the Veteran's lack of family history, while the November 2023 opinion did not provide sufficient evidence to support its conclusion.
- Claimed conditions
- dermatomyositis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- April 9, 2025
- Citation
- A25032748
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 service connection for dermatomyositis, finding the evidence persuasive against it being incurred in or caused by service.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.