The Board denied service connection for various disabilities, including lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, right and left lower extremity disabilities, nausea, hypertension, loss of smell, loss of taste, kidney disorder, prostatic hypertrophy, prostate cancer, post cranial nodes, boils on the shoulders, armpits, groin, and neck, gynecomastia, and an ear tumor. The claims were denied as there was no evidence linking these conditions to service or toxic exposure at Camp Lejeune.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's claimed disabilities were less likely than not incurred in or caused by service, including toxic exposure risk activities, based on a review of the medical records and opinions from VA examiners.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbar spine degenerative disc disease (also claimed as low back pain), right lower extremity disability (claimed as arthritis and right shaking leg syndrome), left lower extremity disability (claimed as arthritis and left shaking leg syndrome), disability manifested by nausea, hypertension, disability manifested by loss of smell, disability manifested by loss of taste, kidney disorder, prostatic hypertrophy, prostate cancer, post cranial nodes, boils on the shoulders, armpits, groin, and neck, gynecomastia, ear tumor
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Camp Lejeune water
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 29, 2025
- Citation
- 25007305
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 an effective date of October 21, 2021, for the grant of service connection for hypertension.
- Dismissed
The appeal for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and bilateral vision condition was dismissed. Service connection for hypertension, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease was denied.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including prostate cancer and related disabilities, urinary incontinence, sleep apnea, hypertension, varicose veins, lumbar spine disability, hip arthritis, shoulder arthritis, ankle arthritis, knee strain, knee replacement, and hand arthritis. The only condition granted was a 10 percent rating for a fracture of the right proximal first metacarpal.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for headaches and increased ratings for left shoulder rotator cuff tear, right shoulder rotator cuff tear, hypertension, and left and right leg restless leg syndrome. The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder.
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