The Board dismissed the appeal for right hand disability. It granted presumptive service connection for CAD and hypertension, as well as causation-based service connection for hypertensive retinopathy and dry eyes secondary to hypertension.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's current diagnoses of CAD, hypertension, hypertensive retinopathy, and dry eyes are related to his presumed exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam. The Board found the evidence was approximately evenly balanced as to whether these conditions were caused by service-connected hypertension.
- Claimed conditions
- right hand disability, coronary artery disease (CAD), hypertension, hypertensive retinopathy, dry eyes
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 3, 2024
- Citation
- A24052033
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 A24052033.
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A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot.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.
- 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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