The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a mood disorder and for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities. The claim for service connection was not well-grounded, as there is no evidence linking the current mood disorder to service or to a service-connected condition. The claim for a total disability rating was denied because the combined disability rating does not meet the percentage criteria of 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a).
The deciding factor: The veteran's claims were not well-grounded due to insufficient evidence linking his current mood disorder to service or to a service-connected condition, and his combined disability rating did not meet the percentage criteria for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.
- Claimed conditions
- mood disorder, patellofemoral syndrome of the right knee, left calcaneonavicular osseous bridging with avulsion fragments and osteochondritis dissecans of the posterior lateral talar bone, a left shoulder strain, headaches, residual scar from excision of a cyst on the scalp
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- May 18, 2000
- Citation
- 0013149
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0013149.
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 has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of records and will provide a supplemental statement of the case if necessary.
- Partly granted
The Board has not made a final determination on the claims of service connection for inguinal hernia, PTSD, joint pain, fibromyalgia, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, sleep disorder, IBS, and headaches. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if these conditions are related to service.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for headaches was reopened due to new and material evidence, and the Board found that his current headaches are related to service. Service connection is granted.
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