The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disorder, finding that the current mental condition is due to and caused by the veteran's 1973 motor vehicle accident. The claim was reopened based on new evidence provided in October 2001.
The deciding factor: The examiner concluded that the veteran's current neuropsychiatric condition (vascular dementia with depressive mood) is not related to his military service or any of his service-connected disabilities, including the gunshot wound residuals.
- Claimed conditions
- Psychiatric Disorder (schizophrenia, catatonic and paranoid type), Vascular Dementia
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 5, 2008
- Citation
- 0838230
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 0838230.
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: Granted
The Board granted service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that his cognitive impairment, which was part of his service-connected mental health disability, contributed to his fatal ingestion of battery fluid.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's vascular dementia is granted as secondary to his service-connected ischemic heart condition. He is also granted a 60 percent rating for ischemic heart condition from March 27, 2013 to February 23, 2015.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found new and relevant evidence regarding the Veteran's exposure to contaminated water at Malmstrom Air Force Base and radiation exposure in missile silos, leading to a remand for further development.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claims for service connection for erectile dysfunction, CVA, and obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected hypertension. The claim for vascular dementia is remanded due to conflicting medical opinions.
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