The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD, hypertension, and low back disorder are all related to his service in Korea. The PTSD is presumed based on combat exposure, while the hypertension is considered direct service connection due to its onset during service. The low back disorder does not have a clear link to service.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners found that the Veteran's PTSD and hypertension were directly linked to his service in Korea, with the PTSD stemming from combat experiences and the hypertension likely related to stress and elevated cortisol levels associated with PTSD. For the low back disorder, the examiners noted no evidence of a pre-existing condition during service or within one year post-service.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Hypertension, Degenerative Arthritis of the Thoracic Spine
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 22, 2011
- Citation
- 1115979
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 1115979.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
- Denied
The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50% since March 23, 2004. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted prior to February 15, 2005 due to the severity of his symptoms and their impact on his social and occupational functioning.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and any acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current mental health conditions and his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 70% disability rating. The Veteran also met the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.
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