The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including peripheral neuropathy and lung disability, have been denied as the evidence does not support a finding of in-service onset or continuity of symptoms.,Service connection is only granted if there is medical evidence linking the current condition to an injury or disease incurred during active duty. The Veteran's claims are based on presumed exposure to Agent Orange (AO) herbicides, but the Board found no direct link between any claimed conditions and service.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of the evidence does not support a finding that any of the Veteran’s claimed conditions had their onset during active duty or within one year after discharge. The separation examination did not document any abnormalities in the upper or lower extremities, nor was there any indication of peripheral neuropathy at that time.
- Claimed conditions
- Degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine (lumbar spine disability), Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Left hip degenerative changes status post total left hip arthroplasty (left hip disability), Left knee osteoarthritis status post total left knee arthroplasty (left knee disability), Lung disability, diagnosed as a pulmonary embolism, Nephrolithiasis (kidney stones), Peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, Peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, Peripheral neuropathy of the right lower extremity, Peripheral neuropathy of the right upper extremity, Prostate hypertrophy, Right hip disability, Right knee osteoarthritis status post total right knee arthroplasty (right knee disability)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 8, 2019
- Citation
- 19135609
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,911 · Granted: 10% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 19135609.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for Dupuytren's contracture of the left hand, right hand, and GERD is remanded due to inadequate VA examination opinions and failure to consider toxic exposure risk activities during service.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's GERD is currently rated at 10 percent disabling, but the Board found that his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), finding that both conditions are secondary to the Veteran's service-connected lower back condition and sinusitis, respectively.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board has denied service connection for bladder cancer, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as there is no evidence to support a link between these conditions and the Veteran's military service.
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