The Veteran's claims for service connection for scars, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder), and a respiratory disorder were denied. The claim for service connection for scars was reopened due to new evidence submitted since the final denial in December 2003. However, no new and material evidence was received within one year of the August 2003 denial for depression. Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including major depressive disorder) is granted. The claim for service connection for a respiratory disorder is denied.
The deciding factor: The preponderance of the evidence does not show that any current respiratory disorder is related to service, and the Veteran's smoking history is considered more likely responsible for his condition.
- Claimed conditions
- scars, acquired psychiatric disorder, respiratory disorder
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 23, 2019
- Citation
- 19105303
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,240 · Granted: 28% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19105303.
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