The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for loss of balance, colon cancer, diabetes mellitus, eye disorder, and lumbar spine disorder. The evidence did not show a chronic disability manifested during or within one year after service, nor was there any medical opinion linking these conditions to service.
The deciding factor: The Board found no competent medical evidence showing that the Veteran had a current disability related to his claimed conditions, and there were no diagnoses of these conditions in service or within one year post-service. The VA examiner opined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder was less likely caused by his active service.
- Claimed conditions
- loss of balance, colon cancer, diabetes mellitus, eye disorder, lumbar spine disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 17, 2018
- Citation
- 18100553
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 18100553.
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 service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, visual impairment, hypertension, and erectile dysfunction due to lack of exposure to herbicide agents during service. The Veteran's claims were not granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection on the merits are being remanded due to new evidence and development needs. The maximum disability rating for tinnitus has already been assigned.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for diabetes mellitus, prostate cancer, ischemic heart disease, right lower extremity peripheral artery disease, left lower extremity peripheral artery disease, and hypertension as the evidence did not establish an in-service event or exposure to herbicide agents.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various hip and lower extremity disorders, including as secondary to a lumbar spine disorder. The case is being returned to the AOJ for further action.
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