The Veteran's claims for service connection for herbicide exposure, congestive heart failure, gallbladder condition, migraine headaches, hammer toes of the left and right feet, respiratory disability (chronic sinusitis/Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), and intestinal disability have been dismissed. The claim for a 30% rating for migraine headaches has been granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran withdrew his claims for service connection for herbicide exposure, congestive heart failure, and gallbladder condition during the August 27, 2025 hearing. His migraines were found to have characteristic prostrating attacks occurring more than once a month but not severe enough to meet the criteria for a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Herbicide exposure, Congestive Heart Failure (CHF), Gallbladder condition/Cholelithiasis, Migraine headache disability, Hammer toes of the left foot, Hammer toes of the right foot, Respiratory disability (chronic sinusitis/Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), Intestinal disability (colon polyps and diverticulosis)
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 5, 2026
- Citation
- A26020292
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 A26020292.
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A dismissal means the Board did not decide the issue on its merits — usually because it was withdrawn or had become moot.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.
- Granted
The Veteran's migraine headache disability is found to have begun during service and has continued since then, warranting service connection.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied a higher rating for CAD and remanded the claim of service connection for CHF due to a duty to assist error.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the evidence is in approximate balance regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorders led to his claimed congestive heart failure with automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator. The claim for secondary service connection is granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of adequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's heart conditions and their relation to service. The Veteran is asked to provide an addendum opinion from a qualified medical professional.
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