The Board denied service connection for numbness in the right and left foot, an initial compensable disability rating for hypertension, and service connection for basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. The claims for chronic muscle fasciculations syndrome of the lower extremities and median and ulnar nerve neuropathy were remanded.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support a current diagnosis of numbness in either foot or a history of diastolic pressure predominantly 100 or more, which are required elements for service connection. The Board also found that the Veteran's hypertension did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating under DC 7101.
- Claimed conditions
- numbness in the right foot, numbness in the left foot, basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, chronic muscle fasciculations syndrome (MFS) of the left lower extremity, chronic MFS of the right lower extremity, median and ulnar nerve neuropathy of the left hand, median and ulnar nerve neuropathy of the right hand
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 24, 2025
- Citation
- A25038050
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.
- Partly granted
The appeal for service connection for skin cancer was dismissed due to untimeliness, while the claim for squamous cell carcinoma was granted.
- Partly granted
The Board dismissed the claim for service connection for headaches and remanded claims for service connection for various other conditions, including open angle glaucoma, sensorineural hearing loss, asthma, heart disease, bladder cancer, and squamous cell carcinoma.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for supraventricular arrhythmias, basal cell carcinoma, kidney stones, and COPD as the AOJ failed to substantially comply with prior remand directives.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for basal cell carcinoma and a higher initial disability rating of 70 percent for other specified trauma-and-stressor-related disorder, while denying increased ratings for lumbosacral strain, right lower radiculopathy, bilateral hearing loss, chronic rhinitis, tension headaches, and mitral valve prolapse.
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