The Board has found that new and material evidence has been submitted to reopen the claim of service connection for a psychiatric disorder, specifically emotional instability reaction. The veteran's initial claim was denied in October 1962 due to lack of evidence showing a disease or injury incurred during service.
The deciding factor: New evidence presented since the prior denial supports reopening the claim as it includes medical records indicating current psychiatric problems and treatment for depression over the years.
- Claimed conditions
- emotional instability reaction
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 8, 2003
- Citation
- 0308729
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,776 · Granted: 24% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 0308729.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including emotional instability reaction (claimed as depression), and finds that new and material evidence has been submitted. The case is now on remand to obtain medical records and schedule the Veteran for a VA examination.
- Granted
The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include emotional instability reaction (claimed as depression), and continues to deny the issue of an increased rating for otitis media. The case is remanded for additional development.
- Dismissed
The veteran's appeal for service connection for emotional instability reaction, also claimed as neurosis and depression has been withdrawn before the Board could issue a decision.
- Denied
The Board has determined that the veteran does not have an acquired psychiatric disorder as a result of service, and thus denied his claim for service connection.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
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.