The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and PTSD, is granted. The Board finds that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of PTSD and major depressive disorder, which are etiologically related to in-service incidents and combat. Service connection is also granted for left hip, left knee, and right knee disorders, as these conditions are found to be at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by service-connected lumbosacral degenerative disc disease.
The deciding factor: The Board finds that the Veteran's diagnoses of PTSD and major depressive disorder are etiologically related to in-service incidents and combat. The left hip, left knee, and right knee disorders are found to be at least as likely as not caused or aggravated by service-connected lumbosacral degenerative disc disease.
- Claimed conditions
- Major depressive disorder, Posttraumatic stress disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- April 2, 2019
- Citation
- 19124451
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,836 · Granted: 31% (granted or partly granted, in the indexed 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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 19124451.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder does not render him in need of regular aid and attendance or confined to his home, thus SMC based on housebound status and/or need for regular aid and attendance is denied.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the (o) rate and SMC at the (r)(2) rate, effective January 19, 2025. The decision finds that the Veteran's service-connected conditions warrant these awards due to his need for aid and attendance.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, as secondary to his already service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Board has granted service connection for major depressive disorder, finding that the Veteran's current diagnosis is related to his in-service harassment. Service connection was denied for a binge eating disorder as there is no evidence of such a condition.
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