The Board has reopened the veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, but finds that there is no current diagnosis of PTSD. The claims for major bipolar disorder, right knee strain, right ankle strain, left shoulder strain, arthritis of the cervical spine, and peripheral neuropathy are all denied as not related to service.
The deciding factor: The veteran's service medical records do not show any evidence or treatment for psychiatric conditions, including PTSD. Post-service medical records indicate diagnoses of bipolar disorder but no current diagnosis of PTSD. The Board finds that there is insufficient evidence linking the veteran's diagnosed conditions to his military service.
- Claimed conditions
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Major Bipolar Disorder, Right Knee Strain, Right Ankle Strain, Left Shoulder Strain, Arthritis of the Cervical Spine, Peripheral Neuropathy
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 11, 2008
- Citation
- 0830901
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 0830901.
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 the veteran's claims for a higher rating for PTSD and dismissed his appeals regarding increased ratings for tinnitus and a right hand disability due to lack of timely filing of Notice of Disagreement.
- Granted
The Veteran's right and left knee strains, as well as shin splints, were granted increased ratings. The Veteran also received special monthly compensation at the housebound rate from October 25, 2017 to March 11, 2024.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 70 percent level, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.
- Granted
The Veteran's right shoulder disability, low back condition, bilateral knee disabilities, and left shoulder strain have been granted service connection. The Veteran's low back condition has been increased to a 40 percent evaluation, while the bilateral knee conditions remain at their current 10 percent evaluations.
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