The Veteran's depression is rated at 50 percent since December 23, 2015. The claim for service connection of Hepatitis C and skin disabilities of the left and right feet are granted.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner provided a new opinion addressing direct service connection for the Veteran's skin conditions of the left and right feet based on in-service exposure to risk factors, including hospital treatment with unknown antibodies in blood. The previous opinions were limited to secondary service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- Major Depression, Hepatitis C, Skin Disability of the Left Foot, Skin Disability of the Right Foot
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- February 23, 2017
- Citation
- 1705519
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 1705519.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied a compensable initial rating for Hepatitis C, finding that the Veteran's condition was asymptomatic and did not meet the criteria for any higher rating.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected major depression and anxiety disorder are considered part of his service-connected peripheral neuropathy, which already qualifies him for SMC(l). Therefore, he is not eligible for a higher rate of SMC.
- Denied
The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, is rated at 70 percent. The Board denied an initial evaluation in excess of 70 percent.
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