The Board denied service connection for a low back disability, finding no evidence of an etiological link between the condition and active duty. The claims for other conditions were remanded for further development.
The deciding factor: The March 2019 VA examiner's opinion was deemed the most probative evidence, concluding that the Veteran's low back condition was less likely than not related to service due to a lack of continuity of symptoms and an absence of treatment or complaints until nearly two decades after separation from service.
- Claimed conditions
- low back disability, right inguinal hernia repair, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease (CAD), neck disability, hypertension, hemorrhoids, renal failure, colitis, bilateral shoulder disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 6, 2021
- Citation
- 21062280
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and pernicious anemia, and the Board dismissed both appeals.
- 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.
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