The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression) and a respiratory disorder (to include COPD), finding no evidence of such conditions in service or related to service.
The deciding factor: The Board determined that there was insufficient medical evidence linking any current psychiatric or respiratory disorders to service, particularly given the significant time gap between service and the initial diagnosis of these conditions.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired Psychiatric Disorder (to include depression), Chronic Respiratory Disorder (to include COPD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- June 26, 2003
- Citation
- 0313993
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0313993.
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: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received, warranting readjudication of the claim for service connection for a left shoulder disorder. The case is also remanded to consider the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a low back disability, and sleep apnea. The claims are now remanded for further development.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is being remanded to obtain additional medical opinions regarding the etiology of his COPD, OSA, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The VA will provide a new examination for these conditions.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board found that the Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disability manifested in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 50 percent rating. The issue of entitlement to TDIU prior to August 1, 2011 was also granted.
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