The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is denied.,Service connection is granted for generalized anxiety disorder and unspecified depressive disorder, as well as bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus. The claims are remanded to consider secondary service connection for back, right knee, and left ankle disabilities due to service-connected pes planus.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability other than PTSD is granted.
The deciding factor: The weight of medical evidence does not support a diagnosis of PTSD that conforms to the DSM-V criteria. The examiner found no evidence of a PTSD diagnosis in conformance with the DSM-5.,The Veteran's current generalized anxiety disorder and unspecified depressive disorder are at least as likely as not related to service, considering his reported stressors and symptoms during service.,Bilateral hearing loss disability and tinnitus are etiologically related to acoustic trauma sustained in active service. The VA examiner found no evidence of a noise injury in service but noted the Veteran's subjective report of hearing loss while in service.
- Claimed conditions
- PTSD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Unspecified Depressive Disorder, Bilateral Hearing Loss Disability, Tinnitus, Back disability (claimed as secondary to service-connected pes planus), Left Knee disability (claimed as secondary to service-connected pes planus), Right Knee disability (claimed as secondary to service-connected pes planus), Left Ankle disability (claimed as secondary to service-connected pes planus)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 9, 2019
- Citation
- 19126598
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to ensure a proper examination and etiology opinion are provided.
- 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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, as the Veteran did not have a diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric disorder during the appeal period.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for multiple conditions, including an acquired psychiatric disorder, sleep apnea, hypertension, and various musculoskeletal and skin disabilities.
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.