The veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection were denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating or service connection.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating, and there was no evidence linking his claimed conditions to active service or Agent Orange exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- calcaneal spur with plantar fasciitis (right foot), calcaneal spur with plantar fasciitis (left foot), acid reflux, variously diagnosed as hiatal hernia, esophagitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), pseudofolliculitis barbae, acne
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 7, 2009
- Citation
- 0900540
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including bilateral plantar fasciitis, chronic pain syndrome, sciatic radicular pain of both legs, traumatic brain injury (TBI), shin splints of both legs, thoracic spondylosis, right shoulder strain, right wrist strain, acne, and allergic rhinitis.
- Denied
The Board denied an initial compensable disability rating for pseudofolliculitis barbae as the Veteran's condition did not meet the criteria for a compensable evaluation.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, as it is unclear whether the Veteran's claimed conditions are due to any incident of his period of active service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for acne to obtain an addendum opinion addressing whether the Veteran's condition was aggravated by his service.
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