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
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- 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 final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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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