The Board denied service connection for a mental health disability due to the lack of a current diagnosed condition, despite evidence of treatment during active duty.
The deciding factor: The Veteran did not have a currently diagnosed mental health condition that was related to his military service.
- Claimed conditions
- Mental health disability
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- October 21, 2021
- Citation
- A21017061
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 A21017061.
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 Veteran's mental health disability was granted a higher rating of 70 percent, and TDIU was granted, both effective from February 28, 2014.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board granted an earlier effective date of September 3, 1971, for the award of service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) from March 10, 2014.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied the Appellant's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of the Veteran's cause of death, finding that October 1, 2013 is the proper effective date. The decision was based on the fact that the Appellant did not perfect her appeal within the required timeframes.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's mental health disability and sleep apnea are granted as secondary to service-connected disabilities. Increased ratings for frozen foot, left and right feet, and peripheral neuropathy of the lower extremities are also granted.
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