The Board denied service connection for PTSD, chronic fatigue syndrome, major depressive disorder, and low back pain as the evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active military service.
The deciding factor: The lack of verified in-service stressors for PTSD, absence of objective evidence supporting chronic fatigue syndrome, and no direct link to an in-service event for the other claimed conditions led to their denial.
- Claimed conditions
- Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Chronic fatigue syndrome, Major depressive disorder (an acquired psychiatric disability), Low back pain (claimed as undiagnosed illness manifested by joint pain)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- February 20, 2009
- Citation
- 0906315
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 3,319 · Granted: 25% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0906315.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of an in-service infection and chronic fatigue syndrome are being remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the cause of his claimed conditions.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for SMC(t) prior to October 16, 2024 was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a need for higher level aid and attendance before this date.,For the earlier effective dates of service connection for erectile dysfunction and grant of SMC(k), the claim was also denied as there was no factual basis to establish entitlement prior to April 27, 2022.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied service connection for PTSD, and the Court has ordered a remand due to the Veteran not being provided notice of his right to a hearing before the RO.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's effective date for SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance is set to March 11, 2021. He was granted a higher level of SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(p) at level (n).
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