The Board found that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, did not meet the DSM criteria for a diagnosis and was less likely than not caused by his military service. The peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities also did not manifest within one year of herbicide exposure in Vietnam.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not support a diagnosis of PTSD or any other acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and is less likely related to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired Psychiatric Disorder (including PTSD), Bilateral Lower Extremity Peripheral Neuropathy
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 12, 2016
- Citation
- 1627617
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 1627617.
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.
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The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection of Diabetes Mellitus type II, Bilateral Upper Extremity Peripheral Neuropathy, and Bilateral Lower Extremity Peripheral Neuropathy as the earliest date of claim is April 5, 2024.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding insufficient evidence to support a diagnosis of any such condition.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is at least as likely as not related to her in-service MST. Therefore, service connection for this condition is granted.
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