The Veteran's bilateral cataracts are not service-connected and do not warrant a compensable rating.,Service connection for hypertension is denied as the evidence does not establish that it began during or was caused by active duty service.,Service connection for a heart disability (claimed as atherosclerosis) is denied due to insufficient evidence linking the condition to service.,Compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for chronic kidney dysfunction and polyuria claimed to be due to nephrectomy occurring at a VA facility is denied because informed consent was present, and there is no proximate cause of the disability from the procedure.,Compensation under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 for a back disability claimed to be due to nephrectomy occurring at a VA facility is denied as the Veteran's condition did not result from the procedure.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's bilateral cataracts are mild and do not cause any significant visual impairment, thus no compensable rating can be assigned.,There is insufficient evidence to establish that hypertension began during service or was caused by diabetes mellitus. The condition likely developed post-service.,Service connection for a heart disability (claimed as atherosclerosis) cannot be established due to lack of credible evidence linking the condition to service.,The Veteran's kidney dysfunction and polyuria are not proximately due to the VA nephrectomy, as informed consent was present and there is no reasonable foreseeability that such complications would occur. The disability is also not considered a direct result of the procedure.,The Veteran's back disability is not proximately due to the VA nephrectomy, as it did not result from the procedure.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral cataracts, Heart disability (claimed as atherosclerosis), Hypertension, Chronic kidney dysfunction
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 28, 2017
- Citation
- 1735595
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 1735595.
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 the claim of service connection for hypertension, finding that it did not manifest during service and is not causally related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicides or service.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and active duty service or herbicide exposure.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and has remanded the issue of an increased rating for skin condition.
- Granted
The Board has restored the Veteran's 10% rating for hypertension effective December 1, 2025 and denied a rating in excess of 10%. The reduction from 10% to noncompensable was not proper.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.