The Board has granted service connection for Major Depressive Disorder, finding that the evidence is at least evenly balanced as to whether MDD was incurred in service. The issue of service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder remains pending and will be addressed upon verification of a stressor.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's current diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder is related to his in-service psychiatric hospitalization, which the Board found not due to PTSD but rather due to personality features and interpersonal difficulties. The evidence is at equipoise as to whether this relationship exists.
- Claimed conditions
- Major Depressive Disorder, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 28, 2016
- Citation
- 1638272
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 1638272.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's major depressive disorder is found to be caused by his service-connected low back and radiculopathy disabilities, which prevent him from doing enjoyable activities and daily living tasks.
- Granted
Service connection for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is granted. The appeal as to the issue of entitlement to service connection for erectile dysfunction is dismissed.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for an increased rating for PTSD and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including a new VA examination.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's erectile dysfunction is secondary to his service-connected major depressive disorder, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
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