The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for diabetes mellitus (to include complications resulting therefrom), and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU). The applications to reopen the claims of entitlement to service connection for hepatitis A, hepatitis C, abdominal complications secondary to hepatitis, lung damage secondary to hepatitis, and kidney disease secondary to hepatitis were also denied.
The deciding factor: The weight of the evidence was against a finding that the Veteran's psychiatric disorder had its onset during service or is otherwise causally or etiologically due to service. The diabetes mellitus pre-dated his hospitalization for treatment for a tick bite, and there was no additional disability caused by VA treatment.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disability, Diabetes mellitus, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis C, Abdominal complications secondary to hepatitis, Lung damage secondary to hepatitis, Kidney disease secondary to hepatitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 8, 2024
- Citation
- 24001115
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 Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the R(1) rate due to his need for regular aid and attendance.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 50 percent for her acquired psychiatric disability, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, as the evidence did not support a finding that his current mental health conditions were related to his active duty service.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's cause of death, finding no evidence that his death was related to any injury or disease in service, including exposure to herbicide agents.
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