The Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetic retinopathy and hypertension were denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis of these conditions during the appeal period. The Veteran was presumed to have been exposed to herbicide agents (e.g., Agent Orange) while serving in Vietnam, but there is limited or suggestive evidence linking hypertension to such exposure.
The deciding factor: The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy and no competent medical evidence indicates that his hypertension is related to service-connected conditions or presumed exposure to herbicide agents (e.g., Agent Orange).
- Claimed conditions
- diabetic retinopathy, hypertension
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 13, 2017
- Citation
- 1751653
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 1751653.
What this means for you
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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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