The Veteran's service connection claims for diabetes mellitus, type II and related conditions were denied as there was no evidence of in-service exposure to herbicides or other causative factors.,Service connection for hypertension, benign prostatic hyperplasia, diabetic retinopathy, left upper extremity neuropathy, right upper extremity neuropathy, right lower extremity neuropathy, and left lower extremity neuropathy were also denied as there was no evidence of in-service onset or continuity of symptoms.
The deciding factor: The Veteran did not serve in Vietnam or near the Korean DMZ where he could have been exposed to herbicides. The VA examiners found that his conditions are not related to service.
- Claimed conditions
- diabetes mellitus, type II, left upper extremity neuropathy, hypertension, benign prostatic hyperplasia, diabetic retinopathy, right upper extremity neuropathy, right lower extremity neuropathy, left lower extremity neuropathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 16, 2020
- Citation
- 20067207
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 an effective date of October 21, 2021, for the grant of service connection for hypertension.
- Dismissed
The appeal for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and bilateral vision condition was dismissed. Service connection for hypertension, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease was denied.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer and related disabilities, urinary incontinence, sleep apnea, hypertension, varicose veins, lumbar spine disability, hip arthritis, shoulder arthritis, ankle arthritis, knee strain, knee replacement, and hand arthritis. The only condition granted was a 10 percent rating for a fracture of the right proximal first metacarpal.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for headaches and increased ratings for left shoulder rotator cuff tear, right shoulder rotator cuff tear, hypertension, and left and right leg restless leg syndrome. The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder.
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