The Board denied the veteran's claim for benefits under 38 U.S.C.A. § 1151 due to memory loss resulting from a septoplasty performed at a VA facility, finding no reasonable possibility that VA assistance would aid in substantiating the claim and concluding that there is no evidence linking the memory loss to the septoplasty.
The deciding factor: The Board determined that the veteran's short term memory loss was not etiologically related to the March 1998 septoplasty performed at a VA facility, as he did not claim it was caused by the surgery and there is no medical evidence linking the memory loss to the septoplasty.
- Claimed conditions
- Memory loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- December 5, 2002
- Citation
- 0217570
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 0217570.
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 granted the Veteran's request to readjudicate his claims for service connection for PTSD (claimed as schizophrenia), headaches, and schizophrenia. The claim for memory loss and residuals of head injury remains denied due to lack of new and relevant evidence.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's need for supervision, protection, or instruction on a continuous basis due to memory loss and the need for back surgery has been recognized. The Board has granted a Level 2 stipend under VA's PCAFC program.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's current memory loss is likely caused by head trauma sustained during service, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Whole decision: Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal regarding service connection for memory loss and seizures has been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.
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