The Board denied service connection for peripheral vascular disease, right lower extremity; peripheral vascular disease, left lower extremity; lead poisoning; and hiatal hernia, gastroesophageal reflux, and peptic ulcer disease as there was no evidence of these conditions during or shortly after service, and the veteran's claims were not supported by competent medical evidence linking them to his military service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the veteran's claims for service connection lacked sufficient evidence of a nexus between the claimed conditions and his active duty service, as there was no documentation of such conditions during or shortly after service, and post-service medical records did not establish a link to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Peripheral vascular disease, right lower extremity, Peripheral vascular disease, left lower extremity, Lead poisoning, Hiatal hernia, gastroesophageal reflux, and peptic ulcer disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 26, 2008
- Citation
- 0810036
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 sleep apnea, a left knee disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hiatal hernia, and diverticulitis. A 30 percent rating was also granted for the Veteran's generalized anxiety disorder effective February 26, 2021.
- Partly granted
The Board denied service connection for bilateral cataracts and noncompensable ratings for bilateral hearing loss and maxillary and frontal sinusitis, while granting a 30 percent rating for hiatal hernia.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for a right shoulder condition diagnosed as bicipital tendonitis and acromioclavicular joint osteoarthritis, and an initial rating of 30 percent for sinusitis. The claims for acid reflux, hiatal hernia, and esophagitis were remanded.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection and increased ratings, granted restoration of a 20 percent rating for left knee osteoarthritis with limitation of extension, and remanded claims for service connection for varicose veins and an earlier effective date for DEA benefits.
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