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
- Not verified here — check the original 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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 20035204.
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: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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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