The veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, bipolar disorder, and various skin conditions are denied as there is no competent medical evidence linking these conditions to his military service.
The deciding factor: There is no current diagnosis of PTSD or bipolar disorder in the record. The VA examination did not find any signs or symptoms consistent with PTSD. There is also no competent medical opinion indicating that the veteran's current bipolar disorder is related to his period of active service.
- Claimed conditions
- Bipolar Disorder, Disability Manifested by Slow Healing Wounds, including as secondary to herbicide exposure, Hair Loss, including as secondary to herbicide exposure, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Skin Condition, including as secondary to herbicide exposure, Tingling/Numbness of the Arms and Feet, including as secondary to herbicide exposure, Tumor/Cyst, including as secondary to herbicide exposure
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 13, 2004
- Citation
- 0418537
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 0418537.
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 Veteran's PTSD was granted a 70 percent rating prior to March 7, 2022, while other claims were denied.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and GAD, as well as tinnitus.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, as it needs a medical opinion addressing the nature and etiology of the condition prior to October 16, 2023.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.
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