The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, sciatica, and hypertension. The decision found that there was no evidence of an in-service stressor supporting a diagnosis of PTSD, and also concluded that there was insufficient evidence to support service connection for sciatica or hypertension.
The deciding factor: The VA determined that the Veteran did not engage in combat with the enemy during his service, which precludes the use of presumed exposure to combat-related stressors. The Board found no credible supporting evidence of an in-service stressor related to PTSD and concluded that there was insufficient medical evidence linking current hypertension or sciatica to service.
- Claimed conditions
- PTSD, sciatica, hypertension
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 18, 2010
- Citation
- 1010249
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 1010249.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and somatic symptom disorder, as well as presumptive service connection for basal cell carcinoma under the PACT Act. Service connection was denied for chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, right restless leg syndrome, left restless leg syndrome, an increased rating for psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, a left forehead surgical scar, and allergic rhinitis.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for headaches and increased ratings for left shoulder rotator cuff tear, right shoulder rotator cuff tear, hypertension, and left and right leg restless leg syndrome. The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's PTSD was granted a maximum disability rating of 100 percent effective December 12, 2022. The ratings for migraines and IBS with GERD were restored from noncompensable to their previous levels.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of October 21, 2021, for the grant of service connection for hypertension.
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