The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including neuropathy of the upper and lower extremities, neck condition, back condition, hand conditions, hypertension, diabetes, and erectile dysfunction. The decision also denied increased ratings for left knee disabilities and tinnitus.
The deciding factor: There is no credible evidence to support any finding of a current disability related to service for the claimed conditions, and the Veteran's lay statements alone are insufficient to trigger VA's duty to assist by providing an examination.
- Claimed conditions
- Neuropathy, Left Lower Extremity, Neuropathy, Right Lower Extremity, Neuropathy, Left Upper Extremity, Neuropathy, Right Upper Extremity, Neck Condition, Back Condition, Hand Condition, Left, Hand Condition, Right, Hypertension, Diabetes, Erectile Dysfunction (ED)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 30, 2024
- Citation
- 24004436
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension, to include as secondary to left orchiectomy, for further development in accordance with the PACT Act.
- Partly granted
The Board granted readjudication of previously denied claims for service connection for PTSD and COPD, while remanding other issues including entitlement to service connection for an eye disorder, hypertension, tinnitus, a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, TDIU, and an initial rating for PTSD.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various disabilities and denied higher ratings for several service-connected conditions.
- Partly granted
The Board granted earlier effective dates for TDIU and DEA benefits, service connection for ED as secondary to a depressive disorder, and special monthly compensation based on loss of use of a creative organ.
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