The Board denied service connection for peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities and hypertension, finding that these conditions were not incurred in or aggravated by active service. The claim for an initial rating higher than 20 percent for a back disability was also denied.
The deciding factor: Medical evidence did not support a direct relationship between the veteran's current peripheral neuropathy and hypertension with his service-connected back disability, nor could it be determined that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active service.
- Claimed conditions
- Hypertension (claimed as high blood pressure), Peripheral neuropathy, both lower extremities
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 27, 2003
- Citation
- 0305786
Veterans Law Judge
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0305786.
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: Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, hypertension (claimed as high blood pressure), and a heart disability (claimed as congestive heart failure) due to insufficient evidence linking these conditions to his active military service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied service connection for erectile dysfunction, granted a 10 percent rating for the painful right knee scar, and denied increased ratings for adjustment disorder with depressed mood and other conditions.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability, bilateral pes planus, neck disability, diabetes mellitus, type II, hypertension (claimed as high blood pressure), and erectile dysfunction to correct an error by the AOJ to satisfy its duty to assist the claimant under 38 U.S.C. § 5103A.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Board dismissed all appeals for service connection of various conditions, including insomnia, asthma, migraines, sleep apnea, erectile dysfunction, hypertension, bilateral hearing loss disability, pseudofolliculitis barbae, clavicle and shoulder disabilities, arm and leg radiculopathies, hip and knee disabilities, ankle disabilities, shin splints, and plantar fasciitis.
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