Service connection for major depressive disorder is granted.,Secondary service connection for cervical spine disability is granted.,Entitlement to service connection for tonsil condition due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune is denied.,Entitlement to service connection for MGUS (monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance) due to exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune is denied.,Secondary service connection for low back disability is denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's major depressive disorder had onset in service or is at least as likely as not aggravated by his service-connected right knee condition, and all doubt is resolved in favor of the Veteran.
- Claimed conditions
- Major Depressive Disorder, Cervical Spine, Tonsil Condition, Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance (MGUS), Low Back Disability
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 7, 2019
- Citation
- 19177214
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.
- Granted
The Veteran was granted a disability rating of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder, effective October 24, 2017. The Board also granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability due to the need for a more comprehensive medical examination and opinion.
- Denied
The Board denied the claims for service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome, a low back disability, a left knee disability, and a left shoulder disability as there was no evidence to support that these conditions were incurred in or caused by the Veteran's military service.
- Denied
The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder prior to September 10, 2022, and in excess of 70 percent thereafter.
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