context: . Indeed, the Board rejected Mr. Washington's statement because it was, in the Board's view, uncorroborated and because he was not competent as a layperson to render a medical opinion, not because he lacked credibility. Contrary to the Board's assertions, there is no requirement that Mr. Washington's statement be corroborated, and service connection may be shown through lay evidence.
citation_a.signal: see
citation_a.identifier: 2 Vet.App. 147, 148
citation_a.parenthetical: holding that "VA regulations do not provide that service connection can only be shown through medical records, but rather allow for proof through lay evidence" and that lay evidence may serve to place evidence in equipoise
citation_a.sentence: See Rowell v. Principi, 4 Vet.App. 9, 19 (1993) (Board must explain why lay evidence alone is insufficient to establish entitlement to benefits; holding lay evidence alone may be sufficient to establish benefits); Smith v. Derwinski, 2 Vet.App. 147, 148 (1992) (holding that "VA regulations do not provide that service connection can only be shown through medical records, but rather allow for proof through lay evidence” and that lay evidence may serve to place evidence in equipoise); Cartright v. Derwinski, 2 Vet.App. 24, 25-26 (1991) (Board cannot ignore appellant’s testimony simply because appellant is an interested party; lay evidence alone may be sufficient to establish benefits); see also Layno, 6 Vet.App. at 469 (lay testimony regarding observations of symptoms “may provide sufficient support for a claim of service connection, and it is error for the Board to require medical evidence to support that lay evidence”).
citation_b.signal: see also
citation_b.identifier: 6 Vet.App. 469, 469
citation_b.parenthetical: lay testimony regarding observations of symptoms "may provide sufficient support for a claim of service connection, and it is error for the Board to require medical evidence to support that lay evidence"
citation_b.sentence: See Rowell v. Principi, 4 Vet.App. 9, 19 (1993) (Board must explain why lay evidence alone is insufficient to establish entitlement to benefits; holding lay evidence alone may be sufficient to establish benefits); Smith v. Derwinski, 2 Vet.App. 147, 148 (1992) (holding that "VA regulations do not provide that service connection can only be shown through medical records, but rather allow for proof through lay evidence” and that lay evidence may serve to place evidence in equipoise); Cartright v. Derwinski, 2 Vet.App. 24, 25-26 (1991) (Board cannot ignore appellant’s testimony simply because appellant is an interested party; lay evidence alone may be sufficient to establish benefits); see also Layno, 6 Vet.App. at 469 (lay testimony regarding observations of symptoms “may provide sufficient support for a claim of service connection, and it is error for the Board to require medical evidence to support that lay evidence”).