The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, right shoulder pain, skin condition of the head and arms (including as due to herbicide exposure), hearing loss, and tinnitus were all denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of a current disability in service or within one year post-service, and that any current conditions are not related to service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran did not have a diagnosed condition during service, and the medical evidence does not support a finding that his current conditions are related to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired Psychiatric Disorder (including PTSD, Anxiety, Depression), Right Shoulder Pain, Skin Condition of the Head and Arms (Actinic Keratosis, Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Keratoacanthoma), Hearing Loss (Left Ear Hearing Loss), Tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 5, 2010
- Citation
- 1016626
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 1016626.
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 granted service connection for depressive disorder as secondary to hypertension and tinnitus, but denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an increased rating for hypertension.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, but remanded the claim for degenerative disc disease with degenerative arthritis.
- Partly granted
The Board granted readjudication of previously denied claims for service connection for PTSD and COPD, while remanding other issues including entitlement to service connection for an eye disorder, hypertension, tinnitus, a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, TDIU, and an initial rating for PTSD.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's conditions are related to in-service noise exposure.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.