The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disability, degenerative changes of the lumbosacral spine, an undiagnosed illness characterized by headaches, sleepiness, poor memory and concentration, and sexual dysfunction, and an undiagnosed illness characterized by low back pain with numbness and weakness of the legs.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support a link between any of the claimed conditions and military service, nor was there objective evidence of chronic disability associated with the complaints.
- Claimed conditions
- Psychiatric disability (PTSD and depressive disorder with psychotic features), Degenerative changes of the lumbosacral spine, Undiagnosed illness characterized by headaches, sleepiness, poor memory and concentration, and sexual dysfunction, Undiagnosed illness characterized by low back pain with numbness and weakness of the legs
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 3, 2006
- Citation
- 0600034
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 left lower extremity radiculopathy was granted a 20 percent disability rating since September 27, 2021.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative changes of the lumbosacral spine secondary to a shell fragment wound, and for initial compensable evaluations for residual scars on the left axilla and buttock.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
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.