Service connection for bilateral flatfeet, left eye condition, alopecia areata, and cognitive disorder/brain damage due to radiation exposure is denied.,The Veteran's service treatment records do not show any chronic disability related to the claimed conditions. The Board finds that there is no evidence of an increase in disability during service or a current disability for which service connection can be granted.
The deciding factor: There is no competent medical evidence showing an increase in disability due to service, and post-service treatment records do not reflect any chronic disabilities related to the claimed conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral flatfeet, left eye condition, alopecia areata, cognitive disorder/brain damage due to radiation exposure
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 16, 2018
- Citation
- 18142813
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 18142813.
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 veteran's claims for service connection, higher ratings, and earlier effective dates, as well as dismissed his claim for a TDIU.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the claims for earlier effective dates and higher ratings for various conditions, including left eye condition, right eye condition, hypertension, left knee, right knee, obstructive sleep apnea, and coronary artery disease (CAD), as well as denied an earlier effective date for CAD.
- Partly granted
The Board denied an initial rating higher than 50 percent for persistent depressive disorder and remanded the claims for service connection for a left eye condition and headaches.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 50 percent rating for tension headaches and a 50 percent rating for left knee strain, limitation of extension, while denying ratings in excess of 30 percent for TMJ and a compensable rating for alopecia areata. The decision also granted 20 percent ratings for left and right knee strains with limitations on flexion and extension.
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