The Board has determined that the veteran does not have a current diagnosis of bilateral shoulder arthritis, hypertension, or headaches. The evidence does not support service connection for any of these conditions.,While the veteran claims he experienced symptoms during service and continues to experience them today, there is no medical evidence linking his current disabilities to his military service.

The deciding factor: The Board found that the veteran's private and VA treatment records do not show a diagnosis for bilateral shoulder arthritis until many years after separation from service. The medical evidence does not relate any current symptoms to an in-service injury or disease.,For hypertension, there is no evidence showing it was first diagnosed during service or within one year of separation. The Board found that the veteran's private doctors have treated him since 1960 and did not link his current condition to service.,Regarding headaches, the earliest documented complaint was in November 1994, nearly four decades after separation from service. No medical examiner has linked any current symptoms to an in-service injury or disease.

Claimed conditions

{"condition_name":"bilateral shoulder arthritis","status":"not currently diagnosed"}, {"condition_name":"hypertension","status":"currently diagnosed but not linked to service"}, {"condition_name":"headaches","status":"currently diagnosed but not linked to service"}

How they argued it

Not specified

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

February 24, 2006

Citation

0605500