The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for obesity, diabetes mellitus, psychiatric disorder (including ADHD, bipolar disorder, and MDD), and dental condition. The decision found that obesity is not a compensable disability, diabetes mellitus did not manifest within one year of service separation, and there was no evidence of chronic symptoms or continuous symptoms since service. Service connection for the psychiatric disorders was also denied as they were not shown to be related to service.
The deciding factor: The Board found that obesity is not a compensable disability under VA regulations, diabetes mellitus did not manifest within one year of service separation, and there was no evidence of chronic symptoms or continuous symptoms since service. The psychiatric disorders were also denied as they were not shown to be related to service.
- Claimed conditions
- obesity, diabetes mellitus, psychiatric disorder (including MDD, ADHD, and bipolar disorder), dental condition
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 4, 2019
- Citation
- 19100988
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 claims for service connection for hypertension and diabetes mellitus to obtain further medical opinions regarding their potential relationship to toxic exposures during active service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for right foot, left elbow, left hip, left ankle, and diabetes mellitus to obtain additional medical evidence.
- Dismissed
The veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for obesity, obstructive sleep apnea, and hypertension.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a restoration of the separate 10 percent rating for vertigo, an earlier effective date for service connection for vertigo and migraines, and a 30 percent rating for hypothyroidism with heart murmur. The decision also denied an earlier effective date for hypertension and remanded claims for obesity, obstructive sleep apnea, and individual unemployability.
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