The Board denied service connection for residuals of a bunionectomy (claimed as bunion left foot) due to the lack of evidence showing that the condition began during active service or was related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Board denied service connection for residuals of a uvulectomy because there is no indication that the appellant's disability developed during his period of active duty and it is not related to any in-service injury or disease.,The Board denied service connection for hypertension as there was no evidence showing its onset during active service or being related to an in-service injury or disease. The appellant did not serve in Southwest Asia or Vietnam, but he claimed exposure to environmental hazards from the Gulf War and Agent Orange.,The Board denied service connection for residuals of gall bladder surgery due to lack of evidence showing that the condition began during active service or was related to an in-service injury or disease.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that the appellant's bunion, uvula, hypertension, or gallbladder issues are linked to his military service.,There is no indication of a left foot bunion during active duty and no evidence linking it to an in-service injury. The surgery was performed after separation from active duty.,The Board found that the appellant's hypertension diagnosis occurred outside the presumptive period for exposure to Agent Orange or Gulf War illness, and there is no credible evidence supporting his claims of exposure to environmental hazards during service.,There is insufficient evidence showing a connection between the gallbladder surgery and military service.
- Claimed conditions
- residuals of a bunionectomy (claimed as bunion left foot), residuals of a uvulectomy, hypertension, residuals of gall bladder surgery
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 3, 2019
- Citation
- 19125101
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 granted an effective date of October 21, 2021, for the grant of service connection for hypertension.
- Dismissed
The appeal for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and bilateral vision condition was dismissed. Service connection for hypertension, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease was denied.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer and related disabilities, urinary incontinence, sleep apnea, hypertension, varicose veins, lumbar spine disability, hip arthritis, shoulder arthritis, ankle arthritis, knee strain, knee replacement, and hand arthritis. The only condition granted was a 10 percent rating for a fracture of the right proximal first metacarpal.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for headaches and increased ratings for left shoulder rotator cuff tear, right shoulder rotator cuff tear, hypertension, and left and right leg restless leg syndrome. The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder.
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.