The Board denied service connection for a respiratory disability, residuals of a left thumb injury, major depressive disorder with panic attacks, and an umbilical hernia as there is no evidence that any of these conditions are related to the veteran's active military service.
The deciding factor: There was no objective medical evidence linking the claimed disabilities to the veteran's period of active service or any incident therein. The Board found the veteran not credible in his assertions regarding onset and continuity of symptoms during and after service.
- Claimed conditions
- respiratory disability, residuals of a left thumb injury, major depressive disorder with panic attacks, umbilical hernia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 2, 2008
- Citation
- 0810916
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.
- 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).
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for complete loss of sense of smell, an acquired psychiatric disability, a low back disability, a respiratory disability, and tinnitus to schedule VA examinations.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for allergic rhinitis and remanded the other claims for further development.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, hypertension, a heart disability, and a respiratory disability due to outstanding service treatment records and insufficient medical evidence.
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