The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as unspecified depressive disorder and panic disorder, as secondary to the service-connected right hip disability. Service connection for a lumbar spine disorder is also granted. The Veteran's right foot neuritis (previously claimed as right foot numbness) is granted as secondary to her now service-connected lumbar spine disability. Service connection for a bilateral knee disorder and respiratory disorder are denied.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran’s psychiatric disorders, including unspecified depressive disorder and panic disorder, were at least in part secondary to her service-connected right hip disability. The lumbar spine disorder was also granted as it appeared during periods of active duty service. Right foot neuritis is considered secondary to her now service-connected lumbar spine disability.
- Claimed conditions
- unspecified depressive disorder, panic disorder, lumbar spine disorder, right foot neuritis (previously claimed as right foot numbness)
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 4, 2020
- Citation
- 20051752
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 20051752.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for various hip and lower extremity disorders, including as secondary to a lumbar spine disorder. The case is being returned to the AOJ for further action.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to errors in obtaining relevant medical records and authorization for private treatment providers. The issues include heart disorder, OSA, sinusitis, lumbar spine disorder, and right knee disorder all related to Agent Orange exposure.
- Granted
The Board has granted the Veteran's request to readjudicate his claims for service connection for a lumbar spine disorder and obstructive sleep apnea, but denied his claim for right knee disorder. The Board also remanded the cases of left leg disorder and lumbar spine disorder.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for treatment purposes only under Chapter 17 for various conditions, including cervical spine condition, right upper extremity nerve condition, left upper extremity nerve condition, headache condition, right wrist condition, left wrist condition, right elbow condition, left elbow condition, right shoulder condition, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), bilateral pes planus, right ankle disorder, left ankle disorder, and left knee disorder.
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