The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic hypertension, a panic disorder, and compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for residuals of Dupuytren's contracture surgery due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions or their causation by VA treatment.
The deciding factor: The Board found no competent medical evidence indicating the Veteran currently suffers from chronic hypertension, a panic disorder, or additional disability as a result of his VA treatment. The Veteran was properly informed of potential risks and outcomes related to his surgery.
- Claimed conditions
- chronic hypertension, panic disorder, residuals of Dupuytren's contracture surgery of the left middle finger
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 16, 2009
- Citation
- 0909669
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to ensure a proper examination and etiology opinion are provided.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for panic disorder, OSA, and hypertension as secondary to a service-connected condition. The claim for diabetes mellitus was denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for an initial disability rating greater than 30 percent for service-connected psychiatric disabilities prior to November 1, 2023, as the AOJ has not adjudicated the Veteran's September 2023 supplemental claim in the first instance.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for further development, including obtaining outstanding private medical records.
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