The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral shin splints, low back disability, right carpal tunnel syndrome, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), finding that there is no evidence of these conditions during or within one year after her active service. The Board also found that any current diagnoses are not related to the Veteran's in-service exposure to particulate matter due to her service in Southwest Asia.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners' opinions were based on the absence of objective evidence of chronic disabilities continuous with Southwest Asia or military service, and the Veteran did not provide credible statements linking her current conditions to her active service.
- Claimed conditions
- sinusitis, bilateral shin splints, low back disability, right carpal tunnel syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 31, 2023
- Citation
- 23006021
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 23006021.
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 various conditions, including right shoulder disability, abdominal hernia, GERD, bilateral ankle disabilities, and bilateral foot disabilities. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated during the appellant's period of active duty.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found a pre-decisional duty to assist error and has ordered the case back to the AOJ for proper notice regarding the Veteran's right to a hearing.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's initial claim for an increased rating for sinusitis is being remanded due to a failure by the AOJ to provide proper notice of his right to a hearing.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied service connection for sinusitis and remanded the Veteran's claims for chronic lower back pain, right knee pain, left knee pain, neck pain, and GERD.
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