Service connection is granted for lumbar spine degenerative disease, hypertension (based on a claim filed in June 2018), left lower extremity neuropathy as secondary to diabetes, and right lower extremity neuropathy as secondary to diabetes.,Service connection is remanded for left hip impairment and right hip impairment due to service-connected musculoskeletal disorders.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's lumbar spine degenerative disease was found to have its onset in service based on medical records indicating back pain during service, post-service treatment, and the Veteran's own testimony of experiencing symptoms since service.,Service connection for hypertension is granted as it is presumed related to herbicide agent exposure during service. The Board also considered evidence from private physicians who concluded that diabetes was a contributing factor to lower extremity neuropathy.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine degenerative disease, hypertension, left lower extremity neuropathy (secondary to diabetes), right lower extremity neuropathy (secondary to diabetes), left hip impairment, right hip impairment
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 20, 2023
- Citation
- 23061689
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 23061689.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
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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