The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for hypertension and low back disorder, finding no evidence of their onset in service or within one year post-service. The claim for increased rating for bilateral hearing loss is also denied as there is no exceptional pattern of hearing impairment present.
The deciding factor: Service treatment records do not show any complaints or diagnoses related to the Veteran's current conditions. His assertions are not credible given his own reports on separation examination forms. There is no evidence that his current conditions had their onset in service, were continuously disabling since service, or were diagnosed within one year post-service.
- Claimed conditions
- hypertension, low back disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- May 20, 2016
- Citation
- 1620617
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 1620617.
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 has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to conflicting opinions regarding service connection for peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and skin disabilities related to herbicide exposure.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension and increased rating for anxiety disorder have been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of a current disability meeting the criteria for hypertension, and the Veteran's anxiety disorder does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
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