The Veteran's claims for service connection for arthritis, a skin rash (secondary to Agent Orange exposure), and a low back disability were granted. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disability was also granted.
The deciding factor: The evidence established that the Veteran had current diagnoses of arthritis, a skin rash (likely due to his Vietnam service), and a low back disability. His claims for PTSD, depression, anxiety disorder NOS, and bipolar disorder were not supported by medical evidence indicating these conditions were related to service.
- Claimed conditions
- Arthritis, Acquired Psychiatric Disabilities
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- September 21, 2009
- Citation
- 0935628
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 0935628.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disabilities, finding that his symptoms most closely approximated a 50 percent disability rating.
- Whole decision: Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error in previous examinations, requiring additional information on right shoulder ROM measurements without medication effects.
- Whole decision: Granted
The Veteran's disability ratings for low back disability and right lower extremity radiculopathy have been reduced from 40% and 10%, respectively, to 20% and 0%. The reduction was based on improvements shown in recent VA examinations.
- Whole decision: Denied
The Veteran's right knee strain with arthritis is currently rated at 10 percent, the maximum allowable rating under Diagnostic Code 5010 prior to February 7, 2021. The Veteran's GERD with hiatal hernia and irritable bowel syndrome is not rated higher than 30 percent.
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