The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for major depressive disorder, recurrent, mild, with anxious distress as secondary to his service-connected lumbar strain.
The deciding factor: The evidence shows that the Veteran's depression developed gradually over time as his pain condition worsened and he found it more difficult to function socially and occupationally. Dr. S.C.'s opinion concluded it is as likely as not with a probability of 50 percent or better that the Veteran's depression is proximally related to his service-connected back injury.
- Claimed conditions
- major depressive disorder, recurrent, mild, with anxious distress
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 9, 2024
- Citation
- A24036824
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 A24036824.
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 Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include major depressive disorder, recurrent, mild, with anxious distress, under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 17.
- Granted
The Veteran's major depressive disorder, recurrent, mild, with anxious distress is granted as secondary to a service-connected right wrist disability.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.