The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically depressive disorder NOS, is found to be related to his service-connected cervical spine disability. The issues of service connection for urinary tract infections and prostatitis are remanded as the evidence does not provide sufficient information on their etiology.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner provided a medical opinion indicating that the Veteran's depressive disorder was most likely caused by or resulted from neck pain associated with his service-connected cervical spine disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Right Knee Disorder, Hearing Loss, Tinnitus, Diarrhea, Pulmonary Embolus due to Degenerative Disc Disease of Cervical Spine, Skin Disorder (claimed as rashes and sebaceous cysts/inclusion cysts, due to chemical and/or herbicide exposure), Acquired Psychiatric Disorder (Depression, NOS), Headaches (secondary to service-connected cervical spine disability), Diabetes Mellitus, Type II (DM) (due to exposure to chemicals and/or service-connected cervical spine disability), Lumbar Spine Disorder, Radiculopathy of Bilateral Upper Extremities (secondary to service-connected cervical spine disability), Radiculopathy of Bilateral Lower Extremities (secondary to service-connected cervical spine disability), Prostatitis/Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy (BPH) (claimed as swelling of the prostate and groin), Urinary Tract Infections, Erectile Dysfunction (ED) (due to degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine and/or medications taken for service-connected cervical spine disability), Sleep Apnea, Chest Pain/Myocardial Infarction, Shortness of Breath/Ultrapiratory Infections
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 27, 2014
- Citation
- 1408457
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 1408457.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for sleep apnea, finding that the evidence did not support a link between the condition and service.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for a higher rating for PTSD and dismissed his appeals regarding increased ratings for tinnitus and a right hand disability due to lack of timely filing of Notice of Disagreement.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including GAD, MDD, bruxism, migraines/headaches, tinnitus, hip pain, iliotibial band syndrome, and leg stress fractures. The evidence does not support current diagnoses of these conditions during the appeal period.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.