The Veteran's claims for hypertension, right foot condition, and increased evaluation for tinnitus were dismissed. The remaining issues of service connection for various knee disabilities, shoulder conditions, and hearing loss are remanded.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran did not provide a current diagnosis for any of the claimed conditions and thus could not establish service connection based on direct service connection criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- Hypertension, Right foot condition (plantar fasciitis), Left knee disability, Right knee disability, Left shoulder condition (bilateral shoulder condition degenerative arthritis, shoulder pain (secondary to neck condition) and joints/painful joints), Right shoulder condition (bilateral shoulder condition degenerative arthritis, shoulder pain (secondary to neck condition) and joints/painful joints), Musculoskeletal mid/lower back, Musculoskeletal neck/upper back, Left ear hearing loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 21, 2023
- Citation
- 23010664
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 23010664.
What this means for you
A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot. It says more about procedure than about whether a claim like this can win.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the claim of service connection for hypertension, finding that it did not manifest during service and is not causally related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicides or service.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and active duty service or herbicide exposure.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and has remanded the issue of an increased rating for skin condition.
- Granted
The Board has restored the Veteran's 10% rating for hypertension effective December 1, 2025 and denied a rating in excess of 10%. The reduction from 10% to noncompensable was not proper.
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