The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's abdominal aortic aneurysm, finding that there is no evidence to support a relationship between his current condition and his military service or any service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners' opinions established that the Veteran's aortic aneurysm was less likely than not related to his in-service shrapnel wounds, herbicide exposure, bladder cancer, or other conditions. The combined opinion of the VA examiners noted that the aortic aneurysm is more likely caused by risk factors such as age, male gender, history of smoking, and hypertension.
- Claimed conditions
- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 23, 2024
- Citation
- 24017228
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 24017228.
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 service connection for obstructive sleep apnea secondary to posttraumatic stress disorder and abdominal aortic aneurysm on a direct basis.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that the VA remand instructions were not followed and thus the claims for service connection are being returned to the AOJ for further action.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between his current disabilities and his military service. The Veteran is asked to provide additional medical research supporting his claims.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for heart and respiratory disorders, attributing these to exposure at Camp Lejeune. The claims are being returned for further development.
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