The Board found that the evidence received since the March 2006 rating decision does not relate to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability, and thus is not new and material. As such, the claim may not be reopened.
The deciding factor: The additional evidence provided by the Veteran is cumulative and does not address the unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim of service connection for a psychiatric disability.
- Claimed conditions
- psychiatric disability (major depression)
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- March 24, 2016
- Citation
- 1611965
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 1611965.
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 service connection for various conditions, including intestinal condition (diverticulitis), skin disability (residuals of dermatitis venenata), right shoulder disability, sleep apnea, psychiatric disability (major depression), heart disability, and prostate disability. The evidence did not support a finding that these disabilities began during active service or were otherwise related to an in-service injury, event, or disease.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and providing proper notice regarding secondary service connection.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The appeal is granted as his PTSD is now considered service-connected.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection of a left leg disability is reopened, and the appeal is granted.
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