The Veteran's service connection claims for polysubstance abuse and right ear hearing loss have been dismissed or denied, respectively. The Board has remanded the issues of service connection for psychiatric disability (including major depression with psychotic features and PTSD), low back disability, and bilateral shoulder disability.
The deciding factor: The evidence does not establish that the Veteran had a current disability during the period on appeal.
- Claimed conditions
- Polysubstance abuse, Right ear hearing loss, Psychiatric disability (including major depression with psychotic features and PTSD), Low back disability, Bilateral shoulder disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 9, 2020
- Citation
- 20024391
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 20024391.
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 the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the current disabilities to military service.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected low back disability alone does not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for further development due to insufficient evidence and need for additional examinations.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for a right ear hearing loss disability is dismissed. The appeal for service connection for bilateral knee disabilities is denied.
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