The Veteran's service connection claims for lupus and alopecia were denied as there is no evidence of the conditions in service records, and they are not considered to be related to military service or Gulf War exposure.
The deciding factor: There is no evidence of lupus erythematosus in the service medical records, and it is unlikely that the condition began during service or was caused by any exposures. The Veteran's current diagnoses were noted after separation from service.
- Claimed conditions
- lupus, alopecia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 23, 2020
- Citation
- 20005669
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for alopecia, bilateral hip conditions, bilateral ankle conditions, tinnitus, an acquired psychiatric disorder, and hypertension as the evidence did not support a finding of current disability or a nexus to service.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for hiatal hernia and alopecia was dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for multiple conditions and denied higher initial ratings for several service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, bilateral shin splints, alopecia, and hearing loss. The right knee condition was remanded for further development.
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.