The Veteran's varicose veins affecting the bilateral lower extremities are granted service connection as they are at least as likely as not related to his period of active service.,Service connection for Legionnaire’s disease is denied due to lack of credible evidence linking it to an in-service injury or disease.,Left inguinal hernia service connection is denied because there is no credible evidence that the condition occurred during a period of service, and the Veteran's lay reports are unreliable given his mental health issues.,Service connection for a residual scar of a right buttocks wound is granted as it was incurred during a period of active duty for special work (ADSW).,Service connection for psychosis for the purpose of establishing eligibility for medical treatment under 38 U.S.C. § 1702 is granted due to an active psychosis within two years of separation from service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's varicose veins are found to be at least as likely as not related to his period of active service, while the denial for Legionnaire’s disease and left inguinal hernia is based on lack of credible evidence linking these conditions to an in-service injury or disease. The grant of service connection for a residual scar of a right buttocks wound is due to its occurrence during ADSW, and the psychosis claim is granted as it was active within two years of separation from service.
- Claimed conditions
- varicose veins, left inguinal hernia, residual scar of a right buttocks wound, psychosis
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 13, 2020
- Citation
- 20046558
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 20046558.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's service connection claims for coronary artery disease, atherosclerosis, peripheral vascular disease, varicose veins, and irritable bowel syndrome are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding secondary service connection.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for earlier effective date for service connection of acquired psychiatric disabilities was denied as the earliest date entitlement arose is April 16, 2019, which is later than the date of receipt of his July 19, 2019 supplemental claim.
- Granted
The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, including bipolar disorder, PTSD, MDD with psychotic features, depression, anxiety, alcohol use disorder, tobacco use disorder, and psychosis are found to have begun during service or be related to in-service events. The claims for sleep disturbances and bilateral eye disabilities are remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to inextricably intertwined issues of service connection for chronic venous insufficiency and an increased rating for varicose veins. The AOJ must adjudicate both claims, request an addendum opinion from a VA examiner, and readjudicate the issue in light of all evidence.
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