The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including deviated septum, chronic/allergic rhinitis, radiculopathy, PTSD, and a psychiatric disorder, were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for service connection due to lack of a current diagnosis or insufficient link between symptoms and service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's STRs do not document any diagnoses related to his claimed conditions, and there is no credible supporting evidence linking his current symptoms to service. The Board found that the weight of the evidence was against finding a connection between the Veteran's claimed conditions and service.
- Claimed conditions
- deviated septum, chronic/allergic rhinitis, radiculopathy, bilateral lower extremities, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), mental health condition (depressive disorder, depressed mood, and anxiety)
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 16, 2019
- Citation
- 19103957
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 Veteran was granted a 70 percent initial disability rating for PTSD effective December 2, 2021, but the claim for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent was denied. The appeal also included claims for service connection and ratings for various conditions, some of which were granted while others were remanded.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of October 17, 2022, for the grant of service connection for PTSD.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for headaches and increased ratings for left shoulder rotator cuff tear, right shoulder rotator cuff tear, hypertension, and left and right leg restless leg syndrome. The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeal for an increased rating of his service-connected PTSD during a Board hearing, and the appeal is therefore dismissed.
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