The veteran's major depression is service-connected as secondary to his service-connected residuals of an amputation of the left thumb. The cervical spine and left shoulder disabilities are not service-connected, but are considered secondary to his service-connected residuals of a partial amputation of the left thumb.
The deciding factor: The veteran's current psychiatric disorder (major depression) is found to be at least in part due to his service-connected residuals of an amputation of the left thumb. The cervical spine and left shoulder disabilities, while not directly related to service, are considered secondary to his service-connected residuals of a partial amputation of the left thumb.
- Claimed conditions
- Major Depression, Cervical Spine Disability, Left Shoulder Disability
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 27, 2005
- Citation
- 0534763
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 0534763.
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.
- Dismissed
The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, Major Depression, and Panic Disorder due to his withdrawal of these issues prior to a decision being made.
- Remanded (sent back)
The claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities are remanded. The claim for sleep disorder (claimed as sleep apnea) remains denied.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an effective date before April 1, 2018 for a 20% rating for left shoulder disability was denied. The appeal also resulted in the assignment of a 20% rating from April 1, 2018 to March 31, 2018, and a TDIU granted from April 1, 2018 to September 3, 2025.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left shoulder disabilities, finding insufficient evidence to establish an in-service event or injury related to his shoulders. The Veteran's current shoulder conditions are not linked to his military service.
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