The Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability (MDD and/or PTSD) is denied as the symptoms are already considered in his existing service-connected chronic adjustment disorder. The claims for increased ratings for right shoulder and right knee disabilities are also denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's current diagnoses update to MDD with other specified trauma or stressor related disorder, which are reflective of his previously diagnosed chronic adjustment disorder.
- Claimed conditions
- MDD, other specified trauma or stressor related disorder
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 9, 2021
- Citation
- 21013499
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 21013499.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board has granted an effective date of March 1, 2023 for the award of special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to service-connected PTSD with secondary major depressive disorder.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for other specified trauma or stressor related disorder, PTSD, dermatitis, and cyst removal scar are all granted. The Veteran has a current diagnosis of other specified trauma or stressor related disorder that is related to in-service stressors. Service connection for PTSD is denied as there is no current diagnosis meeting DSM-5 criteria. Service connection for dermatitis and cyst removal scar is denied due to lack of evidence of a current disability.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with MDD prevented him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation prior to March 31, 2021.
- Granted
The Veteran's other specified trauma or stressor related disorder is granted as service connected because it is etiologically related to stressors from their service.
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