The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral eye condition (cataracts), bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, cervical spine disability, lumbar spine disability, bilateral shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, ankle and foot disabilities, acquired psychiatric disorder, memory disorder, gastrointestinal condition, and hemorrhoids have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a causal relationship between these conditions and service.
The deciding factor: The VA examinations and medical opinions provided no credible evidence linking the Veteran's current conditions to his military service.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"Bilateral Eye Condition (Cataracts)"}, {"condition_name":"Bilateral Hearing Loss"}, {"condition_name":"Tinnitus"}, {"condition_name":"Cervical Spine Disability"}, {"condition_name":"Lumbar Spine Disability"}, {"condition_name":"Bilateral Shoulder Disability"}, {"condition_name":"Bilateral Elbow Disability"}, {"condition_name":"Bilateral Wrist Disability"}, {"condition_name":"Bilateral Hip Disability"}, {"condition_name":"Bilateral Knee Disability"}, {"condition_name":"Bilateral Ankle Disability"}, {"condition_name":"Bilateral Foot Disability"}, {"condition_name":"Acquired Psychiatric Disorder (Anxiety and Depression)"}, {"condition_name":"Memory Disorder"}, {"condition_name":"Gastrointestinal Condition (Chronic Gastritis and Peptic Ulcer Disease)"}, {"condition_name":"Hemorrhoids"}
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 31, 2019
- Citation
- 19182479
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 service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for myasthenia gravis based on the Veteran's exposure to hazardous substances during his military service.
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.