The Veteran's neurobehavioral disorder, including ADHD, bipolar disorder, OCD, depression, anxiety, and insomnia, is granted as service connected due to presumed exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. Her cardiac disability, including tachycardia and arrhythmias, is also granted as service connected based on the same exposure.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's medical records show a history of neurobehavioral symptoms dating back to 1988, which aligns with her presumed in-service exposure to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. The VA and private medical opinions support this connection, citing research linking solvent exposure to these conditions. For the cardiac disability, the Veteran's current diagnoses are linked to her history of solvent exposure at Camp Lejeune.
- Claimed conditions
- neurobehavioral disorder, ADHD, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), depression, anxiety, insomnia, cardiac disability, tachycardia, arrhythmias
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Camp Lejeune water
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 6, 2023
- Citation
- 23026518
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 23026518.
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 case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including bipolar disorder and PTSD. The Veteran will be asked to provide additional medical records and undergo a VA examination.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining in-service psychiatric treatment records and scheduling a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of any acquired psychiatric disorder.
- Denied
The Veteran's depression was rated at 50 percent prior to July 1, 2016. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity. For TDIU, the Veteran had multiple service-connected disabilities but his education and work experience were sufficient for sedentary or light labor employment.
- Granted
The Veteran's depression was rated at 50 percent prior to September 27, 2017. From September 27, 2017, the rating for depression increased to 70 percent.
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