The Board denied service connection for major depressive disorder, DJD and HNP of the lumbar spine, and DJD of the cervical spine as secondary to service-connected residuals of fracture of the base of the fifth toe, right foot metatarsal.
The deciding factor: Service medical records are devoid of reference to any psychological problems or treatment for back pain. The weight of the medical opinions is against the claim due to lack of contemporaneous documentation and evidence supporting a link between service and current disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- major depressive disorder, degenerative joint disease (DJD) and herniated nucleus pulposus (HNP) of the lumbar spine, degenerative joint disease (DJD) of the cervical spine
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 1, 2007
- Citation
- 0716372
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 0716372.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
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The Veteran's claim for specially-adapted housing assistance and a special home adaptation grant was denied because he does not meet the criteria for either benefit based on his service-connected disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his alleged stressors.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder has been dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal of the appeal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, should be remanded due to a failure to verify a stressor related to the death of his two best friends in Iraq. The AOJ needs to develop this stressor.
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