The Board denied service connection for right and left lower extremity peripheral vascular disease as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were related to the Veteran's active military service.
The deciding factor: The May 2023 VA examination found that the Veteran's bilateral lower extremity peripheral vascular disease was more likely due to his borderline diabetes mellitus, and there was no competent medical evidence supporting a relationship between the condition and service. Additionally, the Veteran does not have type 2 diabetes mellitus, which would be necessary for presumptive service connection based on herbicide exposure.
- Claimed conditions
- right lower extremity peripheral vascular disease, left lower extremity peripheral vascular disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 8, 2024
- Citation
- 24001270
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.
- Granted
The Board granted earlier effective dates of March 29, 2016, for the grants of service connection for multiple conditions including hypertension, peripheral vascular disease, scars, kidney disease, femoral artery occlusion, lacunar stroke, erectile dysfunction, cerebral vascular disease, and valvular heart disease.
- Partly granted
The Board denied increased ratings for right and left lower extremity peripheral vascular disease prior to November 14, 2021, but granted a 40 percent rating for the left lower extremity from that date. The Board also granted a 20 percent rating for left knee degenerative arthritis with meniscal tear status post arthroscopic debridement and meniscectomy effective February 23, 2023.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, coronary artery disease with coronary artery bypass graft residuals, right lower extremity peripheral vascular disease with below the knee amputation residuals, and left lower extremity peripheral vascular disease, all of which are related to the Veteran's service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood.
- Granted
The Veteran was granted a special monthly compensation (SMC) based on entitlement to SMC(l) for being so helpless as to be in need of regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, effective December 17, 2010.
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