The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support higher ratings or additional service connection claims.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating in any of the appealed conditions, including ageusia, anosmia, swallowing difficulties, residuals of brain tumor with seizure disorder, and major depressive disorder with anxious distress.
- Claimed conditions
- ageusia (loss of taste), anosmia (loss of smell), swallowing difficulties, residuals, brain tumor with seizure disorder, major depressive disorder with anxious distress
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 20, 2020
- Citation
- 20035204
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 20035204.
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 has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for his acquired psychiatric disability, finding that it is at least as likely as not due to or the result of his other service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied because there is no evidence of current tinnitus symptoms during the review period.,The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for major depressive disorder with anxious distress is denied as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a 100% evaluation due to lack of total occupational and social impairment.
- Granted
The Veteran's TBI residuals, including depressive disorder, cognitive impairment, chronic sinusitis, migraines, vertigo, anosmia, hypogeusia, and trigeminal nerve neuralgia, require aid and attendance. The Veteran is not eligible for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(r)(2). Without regular aid and attendance, the Veteran would need residential institutional care due to safety concerns.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea as secondary to his service-connected major depressive disorder with anxious distress.
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