The Board has determined that the Veteran's back disability and acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, schizophrenia, and/or bipolar disorder, are not service-connected.
The deciding factor: There is no credible evidence of an in-service injury or disease that caused or aggravated these conditions. The Veteran’s reports of continuity of symptoms since service discharge are inconsistent with his contemporaneous treatment records which show he did not report back pain after December 1991 and until February 2003, a decade after discharge from service.
- Claimed conditions
- {"condition_name":"Back disability"}, {"condition_name":"Acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder)"}
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 13, 2020
- Citation
- 20073022
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a medical examination to determine if the Veteran's current neck strain is related to his in-service activities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for myasthenia gravis based on the Veteran's exposure to hazardous substances during his military service.
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.