The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim for HIV infection, but sufficient evidence was provided to reopen the claim for an acquired psychiatric disability.
The deciding factor: The newly submitted medical records and lay statements did not provide a link between the veteran's HIV diagnosis and service, while his claims for an acquired psychiatric disability were reopened based on new evidence supporting these diagnoses.
- Claimed conditions
- HIV infection, acquired psychiatric disability
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 10, 2003
- Citation
- 0334503
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 0334503.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for various conditions, including HIV infection, bilateral hearing loss, traumatic brain injury (TBI), sight impairment, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with unspecified depressive disorder.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for an acquired psychiatric disability to correct a pre-decisional error in the duty to assist, specifically to obtain an adequate VA medical opinion addressing the Veteran's asserted in-service stressors.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 30 percent rating for right hand strain status-post fracture of the third metacarpal and denied service connection for various other conditions including a right ankle condition, foot disability (torn Achilles tendon), acquired psychiatric disability, ear condition, head injury, left leg disability, and low back disability.
- Dismissed
The appeal for service connection for a lumbosacral spine disability and an acquired psychiatric disability is dismissed due to the Veteran's death during the pendency of the appeal.
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.