The Board denied service connection for left and right lower extremity varicose veins, as well as left and right foot disabilities, due to a lack of evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's active duty service.
The deciding factor: The most persuasive evidence weighed against finding that the Veteran's current foot and leg conditions were related to his active military service.
- Claimed conditions
- left lower extremity varicose veins, right lower extremity varicose veins, left foot disability (including hallux valgus and hammertoes), right foot disability (including hallux valgus and hammertoes)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 18, 2025
- Citation
- A25036103
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for higher initial ratings and remanded several issues related to his lower extremity varicose veins, TDIU, and hearing loss.
- Partly granted
The Board granted earlier effective dates for the award of service connection for left and right lower extremity varicose veins, depression, OSA, and headaches, but denied service connection for left and right arm chronic venous insufficiency. The increased rating claim for headaches was dismissed.
- Partly granted
The Board granted the appellant's eligibility for direct payment of attorney fees based on a total rating for compensation purposes based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, but denied it for increased ratings for certain conditions.
- Denied
The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for right lower extremity varicose veins, finding that June 13, 2023 is the earliest possible effective date.
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