The Board has determined that the Veteran's stroke is not etiologically related to his active service or service-connected disabilities. The claim for secondary service connection for a stroke remains denied.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner concluded that the stroke was less likely than not caused by pain-associated high blood pressure, as the Veteran asserted, and found no evidence of medications causing the stroke.
- Claimed conditions
- left lower extremity radiculopathy, stroke, osteoarthritis of the first carpometacarpal (CMC) joint and second and fifth interphalangeal (IP) joints of the right hand, fifth digit metacarpal fracture of the right hand, lumbosacral strain with degenerative changes (lumbar spine disability), depressive disorder
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 6, 2018
- Citation
- 1813744
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 1813744.
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.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that the Veteran meets the basic medical eligibility criteria for PCAFC benefits due to his need for personal care services based on symptoms or residuals of neurological or other impairment or injury. However, further clinical evaluation is needed to determine if participation in the program is in the Veteran's best interest.
- Granted
The Veteran's vascular headaches are granted effective August 22, 2011. A TDIU is granted effective February 11, 2015. SMC based on housebound criteria is denied prior to July 14, 2020.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for coronary artery disease, hypertension, and stroke as there was no evidence of herbicide agent exposure during service and the medical opinions were against a nexus to service.
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