The veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of his acquired psychiatric disorder, major depression, was granted with a rating of 70 percent effective June 27, 2005. His claims for increased evaluations of his lumbar spine disability and carpal tunnel syndromes were also granted, but the hearing loss in the left ear remains at a non-compensable evaluation.
The deciding factor: The veteran's psychiatric disorder was found to warrant a higher rating due to its severity and impact on his daily life. The lumbar spine disability met the criteria for a 70 percent rating based on its symptoms and functional impairment. The carpal tunnel syndromes were also rated as they warranted increased evaluations.
- Claimed conditions
- major depression, facet degenerative joint disease, multiple levels of the lumbar segment of the spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- April 5, 2006
- Citation
- 0609928
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,514 · Granted: 19% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 0609928.
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 Board has remanded the case for additional development regarding the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, major depression, generalized anxiety disorder, insomnia and alcohol use disorder caused his sleep apnea.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for specially adapted housing or a special home adaptation grant due to lack of functional impairment. The Board has determined that a VA examination is needed to determine if any service-connected disability results in loss of use of both lower extremities, one lower extremity and one upper extremity, or residuals affecting balance and propulsion.
- Dismissed
The appeal for neck pain pinched nerve severe arthritis cervical spine is dismissed as a matter of law. Service connection and increased ratings are granted for major depression, mental disorder anxiety and PTSD, carpal tunnel syndrome (both wrists), and migraine including migraine variants.
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