The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including unspecified depressive disorder, low back pain, neck pain, elbow and knee pain, neuropathy of the hands and feet, and seborrheic keratosis, have been denied. The Board found that there was no evidence of a current disability or link to service for most of these claims.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for unspecified depressive disorder has also been denied.
The deciding factor: For the conditions where service connection is sought, the medical evidence did not support a finding of in-service injury or symptomatology. The Board found that there was no current disability for most of these claims and that any symptoms were more likely related to post-service factors such as diabetes mellitus.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for unspecified depressive disorder was denied because the medical records did not indicate an intent to file a claim until July 16, 2007.
- Claimed conditions
- unspecified depressive disorder, low back pain, neck pain, left elbow pain, right elbow pain, left knee pain, right knee pain, neuropathy of the left hand, neuropathy of the right hand, neuropathy of the left foot, neuropathy of the right foot, seborrheic keratosis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 6, 2019
- Citation
- 19134738
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 882 · Granted: 17% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 19134738.
What this means for you
A final Board denial may be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, generally within 120 days of the Board mailing date. A Supplemental Claim with new and relevant evidence is a separate option. Another Higher-Level Review of the Board decision is not available. Check your own notice: this historical decision does not set your deadline.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Granted
The claim for service connection of a low back disability was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The claim is denied as there is no evidence that the current condition is related to service.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for heart disease, hypertension, kidney disease, and low back pain due to potential errors in duty to assist. The AOJ is required to verify the Veteran's alleged exposure to herbicide agents and obtain private treatment records.
- Whole decision: Partly granted
The claims for service connection for hypertension, back pain, right hip pain, left hip pain, right knee pain, and left knee pain have been readjudicated. The claim for sleep apnea has also been readjudicated.,Service connection has been granted for a neck condition, back pain, right hip pain, left hip pain, right knee pain, left knee pain, an acquired psychiatric disorder, bruxism, and vertigo.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for back pain and neck pain, finding no current disability. The claim for Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is remanded due to inadequate consideration of all potential exposures.,The claim for an acquired psychiatric disability (PTSD) is also remanded due to a lack of development of the Veteran's therapist's records.
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