Citation Nr: 21015727 Decision Date: 03/18/21 Archive Date: 03/18/21 DOCKET NO. 20-04 876 DATE: March 18, 2021 ORDER Entitlement to service connection for growth hormone disability is granted. FINDING OF FACT The Veteran’s growth hormone disability is proximately due to his service-connected traumatic brain injury (TBI). CONCLUSION OF LAW The criteria for entitlement to service connection growth hormone disability have been met. 38 U.S.C. §§ 1110, 5107(b); 38 C.F.R. §§ 3.102, 3.303, 3.310. REASONS AND BASES FOR FINDING AND CONCLUSION The Veteran served active duty service from April 2001 to May 2005, August 2007 to March 2008, and August 2008 to October 2009. The issues come before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a January 2018 rating decision by the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO). In March 2021, the Veteran testified at a videoconference Board hearing before the undersigned Veterans Law Judge (VLJ). Entitlement to service connection for growth hormone disability is granted. The Veteran contends that his diagnosed adult growth hormone deficiency (AGHD) and adrenal insufficiency (AI) are a result of his service-connected traumatic brain injury (TBI) incurred in service. Service connection may be established on a secondary basis for a disability that is proximately due to or the result of a service-connected disease or injury. When service connection is established for a secondary condition, the secondary condition shall be considered a part of the original condition. 38 C.F.R. § 3.310 (a). The Veteran has been diagnosed with both AI and AGHD, growth hormone deficiency, satisfying the first element of a secondary service connection claim. Wallin v. West, 11 Vet. App. 509, 512 (1998). The Veteran is service connected for PTSD/TBI, therefore, satisfying the second element of a secondary service connection claim. Id. In January 2020, Dr. J. M. G. diagnosed the Veteran with AGHD and AI. He opined that the Veteran’s growth hormone deficiencies are most likely due to his history of blast-related head trauma, which he suffered during deployment. (continued on next page)   Accordingly, affording the Veteran the benefit of the doubt, the third element of a secondary service connection claim is satisfied. Service connection for growth hormone deficiency is herein granted. 38 C.F.R. § 3.102; Wallin, 11 Vet. App. at 512; Gilbert v. Derwinski, 1 Vet. App. 49 (1990). D. Martz Ames Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals Attorney for the Board N. Stevens, Counsel The Board’s decision in this case is binding only with respect to the instant matter decided. This decision is not precedential and does not establish VA policies or interpretations of general applicability. 38 C.F.R. § 20.1303.