The Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection of PTSD is granted. The Veteran's GERD with hiatal hernia is evaluated at 10 percent, and the issue of increased evaluation is denied. A remand is ordered for a psychiatric examination to determine the etiology of major depressive disorder.
The deciding factor: The decision was based on new evidence submitted by the Veteran that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate his claim for service connection of PTSD.
- Claimed conditions
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) with hiatal hernia, Major depressive disorder
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- July 20, 2018
- Citation
- 18120021
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 18120021.
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 Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder does not render him in need of regular aid and attendance or confined to his home, thus SMC based on housebound status and/or need for regular aid and attendance is denied.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the (o) rate and SMC at the (r)(2) rate, effective January 19, 2025. The decision finds that the Veteran's service-connected conditions warrant these awards due to his need for aid and attendance.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to December 27, 2019 for the grant of service connection for PTSD was denied as there is no earlier claim document in the claims file and the Veteran did not timely perfect an appeal.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, as secondary to his already service-connected hearing loss and tinnitus.
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