The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hammertoes, hypertensive heart disease, PTSD, and major depressive disorder is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability.,Service connection for hypertensive heart disease is denied because the competent evidence does not support an etiological relationship to active military service. The Veteran's hypertension was diagnosed post-service.,PTSD and major depressive disorder are denied due to lack of credible evidence linking these conditions to active military service.,The Veteran's tinnitus claim seeks a rating in excess of 10 percent, but the maximum schedular rating is already assigned under Diagnostic Code 6260.,Non-service-connected pension eligibility is denied as the Veteran did not serve during a period of war.
The deciding factor: There is no current evidence of bilateral hammertoes, hypertensive heart disease, PTSD, or major depressive disorder in service records. The Veteran's conditions are presumed to have developed post-service.,The Veteran was diagnosed with hypertension after service and there is insufficient evidence linking this condition to active military service.,PTSD and major depressive disorder were not diagnosed during service and the Veteran has no credible evidence of a nexus between these conditions and his military service.,The maximum schedular rating for tinnitus (10%) is already assigned, so seeking an increase in rating is not warranted.,The Veteran did not serve during a period of war, thus he does not meet the eligibility requirements for non-service-connected pension benefits.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hammertoes, hypertensive heart disease, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 23, 2019
- Citation
- 19139430
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 631 · Granted: 21% (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 19139430.
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.
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The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder and PTSD. The Veteran will be asked to provide additional medical records and undergo a VA examination.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his alleged stressors.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.
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