The Board found that the veteran died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, and his death was due to depression caused by primary alcohol abuse disorder. The service connection for the cause of death is denied as there is no evidence linking the veteran's manic-depressive/bipolar disorder to his military service.
The deciding factor: The Board determined that while the appellant claimed the veteran suffered from a manic-depressive/bipolar disorder during service, this claim was not supported by competent medical evidence and thus could not be granted.
- Claimed conditions
- degenerative joint disease of the right shoulder, degenerative joint disease of the left shoulder, degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine, a skin condition, to include tinea versicolor, degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine, degenerative joint disease of all toes of the right foot, degenerative joint disease of all toes of the left foot, degenerative joint disease of the left knee, degenerative joint disease of the left ankle, residuals of a fracture of the right third toe, sinusitis, periostitis of the right knee
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- July 16, 2002
- Citation
- 0207935
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 0207935.
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 Board granted service connection for asthma and remanded claims for insomnia and sleep apnea. Other conditions were denied.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for multiple conditions, including bilateral hearing loss and various musculoskeletal issues, as well as an initial rating in excess of 0 percent for rhinitis. However, the Board granted a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including sinusitis, elbows condition, cervical condition, erectile dysfunction, kidney condition, sleep apnea, wrists condition, asthma, shoulders condition, ankles condition, eye condition (bilateral dry macular degeneration), peripheral vascular disease (heart condition), and rhinitis.
- Partly granted
The Board granted higher ratings for the Veteran's service-connected carpal tunnel syndrome and cubital tunnel syndrome of both upper extremities, but remanded claims for service connection for sinusitis, calcified lymph nodes on the lungs, and cervical strain.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.