The Board denied the veteran's application to reopen his claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability and also denied his request for an increased rating for varicose veins of the left lower extremity. The veteran was previously denied service connection in May 1985, but new evidence did not provide sufficient material to reopen this claim. His varicose veins were rated at 40 percent disabling.
The deciding factor: The Board found that no new and material evidence had been submitted to support the reopening of the veteran's previously denied psychiatric disability claim. The rating for his varicose veins was also denied as there was insufficient evidence to warrant an increase in his current 20 percent rating.
- Claimed conditions
- psychiatric disability, varicose veins of the left lower extremity
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- September 9, 2003
- Citation
- 0323257
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 0323257.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues of entitlement to a higher disability rating for varicose veins of both lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the effects of medication.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a psychiatric disability to correct a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically regarding the presumption of soundness at entrance into service.
- Denied
The Board denied higher initial disability ratings for the service-connected psychiatric disability and denied earlier effective dates for TDIU, SMC at the schedular housebound rate, and DEA benefits.
- Partly granted
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left shoulder disability, while remanding claims for bilateral plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis, psychiatric disability, right hip disability, left hip disability, and back disability.
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