The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically major depressive disorder, is found to be at least as likely as not related to his military service.,The Veteran’s headaches are determined to be secondary to and aggravated by his service-connected acquired psychological disorder (depression).,There is no evidence of tinnitus that was incurred in or due to the Veteran's time in service.,The Veteran's back condition did not have its onset during service, nor has it been shown to be causally related to any disease, injury, or incident in service. The claim for this issue is denied.,There is no evidence of hepatitis B beginning during active service or being otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran does not have a left foot condition that was incurred in and due to his time in service.,The Veteran does not have a right foot condition that was incurred in and due to his time in service.,There is no evidence of hypertension being incurred in and due to the Veteran's time in service or manifesting within one year of separation from service. The claim for this issue is denied.,There is no evidence of a skin condition disorder that was incurred in and due to the Veteran's time in service.,The Veteran does not have a sleep disorder that was incurred in or due to his time in service.

The deciding factor: The Board found the evidence to be in equipoise, granting the benefit of the doubt to the Veteran for his acquired psychiatric disorder (depression).,The private examiner opined that the Veteran's headaches are caused and permanently aggravated by his sleep apnea and depression.,There is no competent medical evidence linking tinnitus to service. The Board found the Veteran’s assertions as to a relationship between his neck complaints, initially noted many years after service, and service to be of little probative value.,The Board did not find any evidence in the Veteran's service record that he was exposed to excessive noise while in service. There is no medical opinion linking the current back condition to service.,There is no evidence of hepatitis B beginning during active service or being otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.,The Veteran’s spouse submitted a lay statement stating she has known about his back pain since 1982, but there was no competent medical evidence linking the current back condition to service.,There is no evidence of a right foot condition that was incurred in and due to the Veteran's time in service. The Board found the Veteran’s assertions as to a relationship between his neck complaints, initially noted many years after service, and service to be of little probative value.,The Board did not find any evidence linking hypertension to service. There is no medical opinion linking the current hypertension condition to service.,There is no evidence of a skin condition disorder that was incurred in and due to the Veteran's time in service.,The Board found there is no competent medical evidence linking the Veteran’s sleep disorder to his time in service.

Claimed conditions

{"condition_name":"Acquired psychiatric disorder (to include depression)","diagnosis":"Major depressive disorder"}, {"condition_name":"Headaches","diagnosis":"Tension headaches"}, {"condition_name":"Back condition","diagnosis":null}, {"condition_name":"Hepatitis B","diagnosis":null}, {"condition_name":"Left foot condition","diagnosis":null}, {"condition_name":"Right foot condition","diagnosis":null}, {"condition_name":"Hypertension","diagnosis":null}, {"condition_name":"Skin condition","diagnosis":null}, {"condition_name":"Sleep disorder","diagnosis":null}

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

January 23, 2020

Citation

20005740