The Board has denied the claims for service connection for various conditions, including hearing loss, vertigo or Meniere’s disease, insomnia, conjunctivitis, cataracts, ulcers, headaches, right-hand and left-hand disabilities, squamous cell skin cancer, cholecystitis (claimed as a gallbladder disability), colitis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, skin disability on the back, PTSD, right knee disability, lower back disability, left knee disability, hypertension, and GERD. The claims are denied as secondary to service-connected disabilities or due to in-service exposure.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions are related to service or due to in-service exposures.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral hearing loss, vertigo or Meniere’s disease, insomnia, conjunctivitis, cataracts, ulcers, headaches, right-hand disability, left-hand disability, squamous cell skin cancer, cholecystitis (claimed as a gallbladder disability), colitis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, skin disability (claimed as lumps under skin on back), PTSD, right knee disability, lower back disability, left knee disability, hypertension, GERD
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 25, 2019
- Citation
- 19181300
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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 19181300.
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 Veteran's appeal for service connection of bilateral hearing loss and a ruptured right ear drum was dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development, including a new VA examination to assess his bilateral knee and hip disabilities.
- Granted
The Board of Veterans' Appeals has granted service connection for PTSD and Mood Disorders, both presumed conditions under the PACT Act.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for migraines was reopened due to new evidence. Service connection is granted for painful scars, but the rating assigned remains at 10 percent. The claims for fibromyalgia and bilateral shoulder disability are denied.
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