The Board has granted service connection for depression as secondary to service-connected PTSD, and the veteran's claims for increased ratings for hypertension and pes planus with bilateral foot strain have been granted. The remaining issues on appeal are addressed in the decision summary.
The deciding factor: Service connection was established for depression as secondary to service-connected PTSD, which is a recognized theory of entitlement under VA regulations.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss, Residuals of Left Eye Injury, Residuals of Intra-Aural Injury, Tinnitus, Depression, Partial Compression Fracture of L1, Hypertension, Bilateral Pes Planus with Bilateral Foot Strain, Left Foot Calcaneal Fracture, Status Post Triple Arthrodesis
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- December 5, 2003
- Citation
- 0334002
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 0334002.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient findings regarding PTSD and depression, requiring a new VA examination.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claims for alcohol abuse and psychiatric disorder are remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.
- Denied
The Board denied the claim of service connection for hypertension, finding that it did not manifest during service and is not causally related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicides or service.
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