The Veteran's lumbar spine disability, bilateral lower extremity varicose veins, hypertension, prostate cancer residuals, hernia, and bilateral hearing loss are not service-connected.,Service connection for a lumbar spine disability is denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service or within one year of separation. Service connection for bilateral lower extremity varicose veins, hypertension, prostate cancer residuals, and hernia is also denied as there is no evidence of their onset during service or related to any injury in service.,Service connection for a right lower extremity vascular disability (varicose veins), left lower extremity vascular disability (varicose veins), and bilateral hearing loss are not granted. Service connection for prostate cancer residuals, hernia, and SMC for the loss of use of a creative organ is also denied.,The Veteran's hypertension was not shown to have manifested within one year of separation from service, nor is there evidence linking it to service. Service connection for prostate cancer residuals is denied as the condition did not manifest within one year of separation.,Service connection for a hernia is denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to an injury or event in service. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of evidence did not support a finding that any of the conditions were related to service, or manifested within one year of separation.,There was no medical evidence linking the Veteran's varicose veins, hypertension, prostate cancer residuals, and hernia to an injury or event in service. The available records showed no relevant complaints or diagnoses prior to their post-service onset.,Service connection for a right lower extremity vascular disability (varicose veins), left lower extremity vascular disability (varicose veins), and bilateral hearing loss was denied as there was insufficient evidence linking these conditions to service. Service connection for prostate cancer residuals, hernia, and SMC for the loss of use of a creative organ is also denied.,The Veteran's hypertension did not manifest within one year of separation from service, nor was there any evidence linking it to an injury or event in service. Service connection for prostate cancer residuals is denied as the condition did not manifest within one year of separation.,Service connection for a hernia was denied due to lack of evidence linking the condition to an injury or event in service. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under VA regulations.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine disability, bilateral lower extremity varicose veins, hypertension, prostate cancer residuals, hernia, bilateral hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 30, 2020
- Citation
- 20081558
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
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