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 assigned
- None in this 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. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 0838230.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
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.