The veteran's claims for service connection for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, acute disseminating encephalitis as secondary to Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and a bilateral shoulder disability were denied due to lack of evidence supporting the conditions being incurred or aggravated during active duty.
The deciding factor: The Board found that there was no in-service incurrence of disease for Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and thus no medical nexus could be established. For acute disseminating encephalitis, as it is claimed as secondary to a condition not service-connected, the claim also failed. A bilateral shoulder disability was not shown to have been incurred or aggravated during active duty.
- Claimed conditions
- Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Acute disseminating encephalitis, Bilateral shoulder disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 9, 2008
- Citation
- 0815291
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.
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The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss was denied, and several claims were remanded for further development.
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- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for a bilateral knee disability and a bilateral shoulder disability, as there was no evidence to support a causal relationship between the current disabilities and his military service.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral ankle disability, bilateral shoulder disability, back disability, and tinnitus as the evidence did not support a finding of current disabilities or a link to in-service events.
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