The Veteran's claim for service connection for a heart disability was denied due to lack of evidence of disease or injury in service. The claim is not reopened as new and material evidence has not been received.,Service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder cannot be established as the Veteran does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD, which requires a specific stressor event. Major depressive disorder was diagnosed but there is no link to service or an in-service stressor.,The Veteran's skin disability (presumably seborrheic dermatitis and actinic keratoses) is presumed due to exposure to herbicide agents during service.,There is no evidence of a bilateral shoulder disability at any time during the pendency of the claim. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran has a current disability or that it is related to service.,Diabetes mellitus was not present in service and there is no link between diabetes and service, including exposure to herbicide agents.,The bilateral eye disability (presumably macular disease, cataracts, and presbyopia) is presumed due to exposure to herbicide agents during service. There is no evidence of a current disability or that it is related to service.,There is no evidence of a bilateral knee disability at any time during the pendency of the claim. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran has a current disability or that it is related to service.,The lumbosacral strain was not present in service and there is no link between the condition and service.

The deciding factor: There is no evidence of a heart disability during service, and the claim for service connection was abandoned due to lack of response within one year of notification.,The Veteran does not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD as per DSM-5. There is no link between current psychiatric symptoms (major depressive disorder) and an in-service stressor or disease/injury.,The skin disability is presumed due to exposure to herbicide agents during service, but there is no evidence of a current disability related to the condition.,There is no evidence of a bilateral shoulder disability at any time during the pendency of the claim. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran has a current disability or that it is related to service.,Diabetes mellitus was not present in service and there is no link between diabetes and service, including exposure to herbicide agents.,The bilateral eye disability (presumably macular disease, cataracts, and presbyopia) is presumed due to exposure to herbicide agents during service. There is no evidence of a current disability or that it is related to service.,There is no evidence of a bilateral knee disability at any time during the pendency of the claim. The preponderance of evidence does not support a finding that the Veteran has a current disability or that it is related to service.,The lumbosacral strain was not present in service and there is no link between the condition and service.

Claimed conditions

Heart disability, Psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and major depressive disorder), Skin disability, Bilateral shoulder disability, Diabetes mellitus, Bilateral eye disability (including macular disease, bilateral cataracts, and presbyopia), Bilateral knee disability, Lumbosacral strain

How they argued it

Not specified

Exposure basis

None

Rating

Not verified here — check the original decision

Decision date

July 2, 2020

Citation

20044553

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 20044553.