The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected chronic lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and intervertebral disc syndrome. A 10 percent rating is granted for sinusitis.
The deciding factor: The medical evidence supports a finding that the Veteran’s major depressive disorder is at least as likely as not related to her service-connected low back disorder, resulting in depression symptoms exacerbated by her back condition. For the sinusitis claim, there was no evidence of incapacitating episodes requiring prolonged antibiotic treatment or characterized by headaches, pain, purulent discharge, or crusting.
- Claimed conditions
- major depressive disorder, sinusitis
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- January 16, 2020
- Citation
- 20003481
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,990 · Granted: 35% (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 20003481.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for specially-adapted housing assistance and a special home adaptation grant was denied because he does not meet the criteria for either benefit based on his service-connected disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his alleged stressors.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder has been dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal of the appeal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found a pre-decisional duty to assist error and has ordered the case back to the AOJ for proper notice regarding the Veteran's right to a hearing.
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