The Board denied service connection for hypertension on a secondary basis to her service-connected migraine headaches and lumbosacral strain. The Veteran's combined rating from all service-connected disabilities is at least 70%, meeting the criteria for TDIU, but she was found unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to her employment history.
The deciding factor: The Veteran has been employed in full-time positions since 2000 and currently holds a position as a hospital coder/biller. Her service-connected conditions do not hinder her ability to work at this job, which she has held for over 12 years.
- Claimed conditions
- hypertension, migraine headaches, lumbosacral strain, pain disorder, thrombophlebitis migrans of the right lower extremity, sciatica nerve in the right lower extremity, myoma of uterus, bilateral shin splints
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- January 11, 2018
- Citation
- 1802713
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1802713.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: 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.
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The Board has remanded the claims for bilateral hearing loss, migraine headaches, and PTSD due to additional development of records and examination.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
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