The Board denied service connection for PTSD, a neck disorder, and the reopening of a previously denied claim for a low back disorder due to lack of evidence supporting an association between these conditions and the veteran's active duty.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support a diagnosis of PTSD or establish a link between the claimed in-service stressors and current symptomatology. For the neck and low back disorders, there was no evidence of chronic symptoms during service or within one year after discharge, and the first diagnoses occurred many years later without an established connection to active duty.
- Claimed conditions
- PTSD, neck disorder (degenerative joint disease of the cervical spine), low back disorder (degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 30, 2009
- Citation
- 0903302
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to ensure a proper examination and etiology opinion are provided.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and somatic symptom disorder, as well as presumptive service connection for basal cell carcinoma under the PACT Act. Service connection was denied for chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, right restless leg syndrome, left restless leg syndrome, an increased rating for psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, a left forehead surgical scar, and allergic rhinitis.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, as the Veteran did not have a diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric disorder during the appeal period.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, hypertension, and various musculoskeletal and skin disabilities.
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