The Veteran's depressive disorder is granted as secondary to his service-connected cervical and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis, along with right and left upper extremity radiculopathy. High cholesterol or hyperlipidemia is denied due to it being a mere laboratory finding. Service connection for hypertension and residuals of stroke are also granted, but the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for these grants remains pending.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s depressive disorder was found to be secondary to his service-connected cervical and lumbar spine degenerative arthritis and radiculopathy in both upper extremities. Service connection for hypertension and residuals of stroke were granted as they are related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, specifically his cervical spine disability.
- Claimed conditions
- Depressive Disorder, High Cholesterol or Hyperlipidemia, Hypertension
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- January 18, 2019
- Citation
- 19104601
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,977 · Granted: 27% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19104601.
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.
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The Board denied the claim of service connection for hypertension, finding that it did not manifest during service and is not causally related to the Veteran's exposure to herbicides or service.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension, finding that there was no evidence of a nexus between his current condition and active duty service or herbicide exposure.
- Denied
The Board has denied service connection for hypertension and has remanded the issue of an increased rating for skin condition.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD has been dismissed as the claim was granted and effective from February 22, 2023.
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