The veteran's PTSD is rated at the highest possible rating of 70 percent, and his left wrist fracture residuals are not entitled to a higher rating. Service connection for carotidynia, low back disorder, variously diagnosed respiratory disorders (including as due to an undiagnosed illness), peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, and left upper extremity tremor is granted.
The deciding factor: The veteran's PTSD symptoms are severe enough to warrant a 70 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 9411. The other conditions were not shown to be related to service or due to an undiagnosed illness in the Persian Gulf War, but they have been found to be related to environmental factors in service.
- Claimed conditions
- carotidynia, low back disorder, variously diagnosed respiratory disorders (including as due to an undiagnosed illness), peripheral neuropathy of the upper extremities, left upper extremity tremor
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- January 21, 2005
- Citation
- 0501586
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,699 · Granted: 17% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 0501586.
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
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