Veterans’ RightsAn independent resource for veterans
← All decisions
Whole decision: Denied

The Veteran's service connection claims for various disabilities, including cervical spine disability, back disability, bilateral foot disability, tinnitus, sleep disability, chest disability, diabetes mellitus (to include as secondary to herbicide exposure), TBI, hypertension, and bilateral lower extremity neuropathy have all been denied. The dental condition claim has also been referred for adjudication.

The deciding factor: The Veteran's service records do not show any in-service diagnoses or treatment related to the claimed disabilities, and there is no medical evidence linking these conditions to his time in service.

Claimed conditions
Cervical spine disability, Back disability, Bilateral foot disability, Tinnitus, Sleep disability, Chest disability, Diabetes mellitus (to include as secondary to exposure to herbicide agents), TBI, Hypertension, Bilateral lower extremity neuropathy, Dental condition
How they argued it
Not specified
Exposure basis
None
Rating
Not verified here — check the original decision
Decision date
May 16, 2019
Citation
19138077

Veterans Law Judge

John J. Crowley

Decisions by this judge: 3,319 · Granted: 25% (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 19138077.

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.

Free starter guide for your own claim

Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.

We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.

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.