The Veteran's claims for service connection for a heart condition and small bowel obstruction, claimed as mesenteric ischemia due to an undiagnosed illness (Gulf War Syndrome) are both denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support the presence of a current disability or a link between the conditions and military service.
- Claimed conditions
- Heart condition, Small bowel obstruction (claimed as mesenteric ischemia)
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 4, 2019
- Citation
- 19124380
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.
- Dismissed
The appeal is dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a heart condition to provide a new VA examination and obtain medical opinions addressing whether the Veteran's diagnosed heart conditions are related to service or caused or aggravated by one or more service-connected disabilities, including hypertension.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for a heart condition, adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, chronic, residuals of frostbite to the right and left lower extremities, and a right foot condition due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including heart condition, lung condition, peripheral neuropathy of both upper and lower extremities, bilateral plantar fasciitis with bone spurs, left kidney cyst, cirrhosis of the liver and hepatitis C, migraine, and chronic allergic rhinitis.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.