The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression, as secondary to his service-connected disabilities is denied. The Veteran is granted a 60 percent rating for prostate cancer. The Veteran's claim for increased rating of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease with myocardial infarction and coronary artery bypass graft is denied. The Veteran's claim for compensable rating for residual surgical scar anterior chest is denied.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found no evidence of a current psychiatric disorder in the Veteran, and his symptoms were attributed to medication use rather than a service-connected disability. The Veteran's prostate cancer was rated based on urinary frequency and obstructed voiding, with the Board finding that the Veteran's bowel and urinary incontinence due to radiation therapy warranted a 60 percent rating under DC 7529. For his atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, the Board found no evidence of heart failure symptoms at or below the 3.1-5.0 METs level required for a 60 percent rating. The Veteran's chest scar was rated as noncompensable due to its size and lack of underlying soft tissue damage.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disorder, to include depression, Prostate cancer, Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease with myocardial infarction and coronary artery bypass graft, Residual surgical scar anterior chest
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- November 13, 2023
- Citation
- A23031798
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 A23031798.
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 Veteran's arteriosclerotic heart disease is rated at 100% effective October 25, 2024. His prostate cancer residuals are rated at 60% effective October 25, 2024.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder and prostate cancer are granted service connection, with the latter requiring a VA examination to address exposure to burn pits.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's claim for service connection for hearing loss in the right ear has been denied. The Board found that there is no current diagnosis of right ear hearing loss and thus, cannot establish a link to service. For prostate cancer, the Veteran's claim is remanded as VA did not provide an opinion regarding whether his condition may be related to service due to toxic exposure.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's prostate cancer residuals prior to January 5, 2026 are rated at 10 percent. From January 5, 2026, the Veteran is granted a 20 percent rating for his prostate cancer residuals. The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is not compensable.
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