The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is granted as service-connected. The left elbow, left shoulder, right ankle, and right knee disorders are denied due to lack of evidence linking them to service or a service-connected condition. The thoracolumbar spine disorder, testicular pain, chest pain (costochondritis), stomach pain, and headaches are also denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's PTSD is linked to in-service stressors involving witnessing traumatic events during his military service, which meets the criteria for presumptive service connection under VA law. The other conditions were not found to be related to service or a service-connected condition based on the evidence provided.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disorder, to include posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Arthritis of the left elbow, Arthritis of the left shoulder, Arthritis of the right ankle, Arthritis of the right knee, Arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine, Chronic disorder manifested by testicular pain, Chronic disorder manifested by chest pain (costochondritis), Chronic disorder manifested by stomach pain (peptic ulcer disease), Chronic disorder manifested by headaches
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 28, 2017
- Citation
- 1735596
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 1735596.
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 an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding that the Veteran did not have a current disability and failed to establish a link between his in-service stressor and any diagnosed condition.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for arthritis of the lumbar spine, right ankle, left ankle, and left foot on a presumptive basis due to continuous symptoms since service separation.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for an effective date of March 26, 2018, for arthritis of the thoracolumbar spine with IVDS and associated right lower extremity radiculopathy has been granted. The rating assigned is 40 percent.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the issues of entitlement to service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to a need for additional evidence.
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.