The Veteran's psychiatric disorder and lumbar degenerative disc disease are both found to be related to his service-connected disabilities, with the Board granting service connection for these conditions on a secondary basis.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner provided opinions supporting that the Veteran's psychiatric disorder and lumbar degenerative disc disease were at least as likely as not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- Psychiatric Disorder (Major Depressive Disorder), Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- November 7, 2017
- Citation
- 1750608
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 1750608.
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 due to an inadequate medical opinion regarding whether PTSD is caused or aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected lumbar degenerative disc disease. The case will be returned for further development.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for PTSD, an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for acquired psychiatric disorder, and increased ratings for left knee patellofemoral syndrome and left lower extremity radiculopathy were denied. The Veteran's claim for a TDIU was also remanded.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple conditions, including IBS, somatic symptom disorder, lumbar degenerative disc disease, and various radiculopathies and strains, finding that these conditions are related to the Veteran's military service or secondary to a service-connected disability.
- Partly granted
The Board restored the 20 percent rating for lumbar degenerative disc disease, finding that the reduction was improper. The other claims for increased ratings were denied.
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