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
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- 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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0323257.
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: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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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