The Board found that the veteran's Haglund's deformity and Achilles tendinitis of the left foot were not incurred in service, as there was no evidence linking it to his military service. The other conditions (eye disability, heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes) are denied due to lack of evidence establishing a nexus between these disabilities and service.
The deciding factor: The Board determined that the veteran's Haglund's deformity and Achilles tendinitis were first manifested many years after separation from service and there was no competent medical evidence linking it to his military service. The other conditions were also denied as there was insufficient evidence of a nexus between these disabilities and service.
- Claimed conditions
- Haglund's deformity and Achilles tendinitis of the left foot, eye disability, heart disease, hypertension, diabetes
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 3, 2004
- Citation
- 0403074
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0403074.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for headaches and increased ratings for left shoulder rotator cuff tear, right shoulder rotator cuff tear, hypertension, and left and right leg restless leg syndrome. The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of October 21, 2021, for the grant of service connection for hypertension.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for asthma but denied it for hypertension.
- Dismissed
The appeal for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and bilateral vision condition was dismissed. Service connection for hypertension, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease was denied.
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