The Board denied service connection for a skin disorder, an innocently acquired psychiatric disorder, a sinus disorder, an eye disorder (color blindness), residuals of right small finger injury, and residuals of dental injury. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for the service-connected postoperative residuals of reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament was also denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not support a finding that any of the claimed conditions were incurred in or aggravated by active service, and refractive error and color blindness are not considered diseases or injuries under applicable law.
- Claimed conditions
- skin disorder, innocently acquired psychiatric disorder, sinus disorder, eye disorder (color blindness), residuals of right small finger injury, residuals of dental injury
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 25, 2009
- Citation
- 0911010
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.
- Partly granted
The Board restored the 50% rating for headaches and the 30% rating for a cervical spine disability, as the reductions were improper. The claims for service connection for OSA, a higher rating for allergic rhinitis, and a sinus disorder are remanded.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the claims for service connection for chronic lymphocytic leukemia and a skin disorder due to an improper concurrent election. The effective dates for the lumbar spine disability, left lower extremity radiculopathies, and TDIU were denied as they did not meet the criteria for earlier effective dates.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues of service connection for a bilateral foot disorder, an acquired psychiatric disorder, a skin disorder, and a sleep disorder, as well as an evaluation in excess of 10 percent for cystitis, due to the need for further development.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for sinus disorder, burning left eye and right eye, fungus infection on toenails, and bronchitis to obtain additional medical opinions.
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