The Veteran's lower back and cervical spine disabilities are found to be related to service, granting service connection for these conditions.,Service connection is granted for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder), with his headaches also being considered as proximately due to this condition.,The claim for bilateral foot disability was reopened based on new evidence, but no decision was made regarding its merits.
The deciding factor: The medical opinions provided are at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's conditions were related to service. The Board found these opinions reasonable and sufficient to reopen the claims.,The relationship between mental health disorders (including major depressive disorder) and headaches was established, with both contributing factors considered.,New evidence has been submitted that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the claim for bilateral foot disability.
- Claimed conditions
- lower back disability, cervical spine disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (major depressive disorder), headaches
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 5, 2019
- Citation
- 19126219
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for headaches and increased ratings for left shoulder rotator cuff tear, right shoulder rotator cuff tear, hypertension, and left and right leg restless leg syndrome. The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy from April 3, 2023 onward, but denied higher ratings prior to that date. Service connection was also granted for alcohol use disorder as secondary to PTSD with traumatic brain injury.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for an increased initial disability evaluation of headaches due to an inadequate VA examination.
- Dismissed
The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for a bilateral knee disability, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, lumbar spine disability, cervical spine disability, and chronic pain syndrome due to untimely notices of disagreement.
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