Veterans’ RightsAn independent resource for veterans
← All decisions
Denied

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, peripheral neuropathy, heart disease, and liver disease (including hepatitis C), finding that new evidence did not meet the criteria to reopen the claim. The Board also determined that there was no direct service connection for these conditions.

The deciding factor: The Board found that the submitted evidence was insufficient to reopen the claim for a psychiatric disorder due to lack of materiality, and denied claims for peripheral neuropathy, heart disease, and liver disease (including hepatitis C) as they were not related to service based on VA law prohibiting direct service connection for conditions resulting from alcohol abuse.

Claimed conditions
psychiatric disorder, peripheral neuropathy, heart disease, liver disease
How they argued it
Direct service connection
Exposure basis
None
Rating assigned
None in this decision
Decision date
October 2, 2002
Citation
0213485

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 0213485.

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.

Free starter guide for your own claim

Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.

We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.

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.