Denied
The Veteran's headaches and hypertension are not service-connected as they did not manifest during active duty, nor are they linked to his Gulf War service or PTSD.,His lower back disability is not service-connected due to lack of evidence showing it was present in service or within the presumptive period for undiagnosed illnesses.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence does not support a link between the Veteran's current conditions and his military service, including Gulf War exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"Headaches","claimed_as":"undiagnosed illness or secondary to PTSD"}, {"condition_name":"Hypertension","claimed_as":"undiagnosed illness or secondary to PTSD"}, {"condition_name":"Lower Back Disability (fibromyalgia)","claimed_as":"undiagnosed illness"}, {"condition_name":"Stomach Disorder (IBS)","claimed_as":"undiagnosed illness or secondary to PTSD"}
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 31, 2019
- Citation
- A19002430
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
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.