The Veteran's service connection for PTSD, anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder is granted. The initial rating for tinnitus remains at 10 percent. Service connections are also granted for various other conditions including right hip, knee, ankle, foot disabilities, hypertension, cardiovascular disorders, sleep apnea, and bilateral hearing loss.
The deciding factor: The VHA expert's opinion supported the Veteran's claim that his PTSD is related to service stressors, warranting direct service connection without requiring a presumption of exposure or other theory of service connection.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety disorder, major depressive disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 10%
- Decision date
- October 2, 2018
- Citation
- 18140181
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 18140181.
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.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for specially-adapted housing assistance and a special home adaptation grant was denied because he does not meet the criteria for either benefit based on his service-connected disabilities.
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