The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for COPD prior to December 20, 2004 was denied. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder was reopened due to new evidence submitted since the last final denial. However, the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and loss of taste were both denied.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not establish a direct relationship between the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and his military service, nor could it be determined that his loss of taste was related to his service-connected loss of sense of smell.
- Claimed conditions
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Acquired Psychiatric Disorder
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 24, 2017
- Citation
- 1747465
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 1747465.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and any acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current mental health conditions and his military service.
- Denied
The claims for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder, memory loss/memory problems, chronic fatigue, sleep difficulties/sleep disturbances, and sleep apnea have been denied. The claim for service connection for residuals of testicular denervation and varicosectomy has been granted.
- Granted
The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is granted a 70% rating, effective July 15, 2024. The Veteran's GERD remains at a 10% rating.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance due to service-connected TBI with PTSD is granted, effective September 6, 2018.
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