The Board has denied service connection for gout, left and right leg swelling, respiratory disability, peripheral neuropathy of the feet, and restless leg syndrome due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to service or herbicide exposure.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran's current gout was not caused by service and attributed it to a primary metabolic disorder unrelated to in-service exposures.
- Claimed conditions
- gout, left leg swelling, right leg swelling, respiratory disability, left foot peripheral neuropathy, right foot peripheral neuropathy, restless leg syndrome of left leg, restless leg syndrome of right leg
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 5, 2020
- Citation
- 20071767
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Partly granted
The Board granted an initial evaluation of 20 percent for left and right ankle strains, denied a compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss, and remanded claims for hypertension and gout.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for compensation under 38 U.S.C. §1151 for various disabilities due to treatment at a VAMC in April 2007, finding no evidence of additional disability caused by carelessness or negligence on VA's part.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for diabetes, sleep apnea, prostate cancer, urinary incontinence, residuals of gallbladder removal, gout and low back disability, as well as entitlement to a TDIU prior to April 20, 2023, due to inadequate medical opinions.
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