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
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied the appellant's eligibility for direct payment of fees from past due benefits awarded in November 2024, as the decision was an initial decision on a new claim seeking increased rating for the Veteran's psychiatric disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for a back disability, hand warts, and psychiatric disability due to inconsistencies in the Veteran's reports regarding the etiology of these conditions.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's initial claim for a higher rating and earlier effective date for his psychiatric disability was denied. The appeal of the proposed reduction in hypertension rating is dismissed as not being an adjudicative determination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a lack of VA examination regarding the Veteran's psychiatric disability, which may be related to his active duty service.
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