The Board has determined that service connection cannot be granted for hypercholesterolemia as it is not a disability. The Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, heart disability, hypertension, and peripheral arterial disease are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding their etiology.
The deciding factor: Service connection may only be granted if there is evidence of a current disability that is related to service through a link established by competent medical opinion. The Veteran's hypercholesterolemia does not qualify as a disability under VA law and regulations, thus preventing service connection for this condition.
- Claimed conditions
- hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus, heart disability (coronary artery disease), hypertension, peripheral arterial disease
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- Camp Lejeune water
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 30, 2022
- Citation
- 22055794
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 22055794.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including VA examinations.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for additional development due to conflicting opinions regarding service connection for peripheral neuropathy, hypertension, and skin disabilities related to herbicide exposure.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension and increased rating for anxiety disorder have been denied. The Board found that there is no evidence of a current disability meeting the criteria for hypertension, and the Veteran's anxiety disorder does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
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