The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates for service-connected hypertension, PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder, gouty arthritis of the ring and little finger on the right hand, prostate cancer (previously claimed), sleep apnea syndromes, bilateral hearing loss, and diabetes mellitus type II are all denied.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for gouty arthritis of the ring and little finger on the right hand is remanded. The claims for service connection for carcinoma of the prostate (previously claimed), sleep apnea syndromes, bilateral hearing loss, and diabetes mellitus type II are also remanded.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to April 20, 2017 for service-connected PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder is denied. The claims for service connection for prostate cancer (previously claimed), sleep apnea syndromes, bilateral hearing loss, and diabetes mellitus type II are also remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's hypertension was rated as 10 percent disabling under Diagnostic Code 7101. The evidence did not show diastolic pressure predominantly 110 or more or systolic pressure predominantly 200 or more, thus a higher rating is not warranted.,The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder was rated as 70 percent disabling under the General Formula for Mental Disorders (General Formula). The evidence did not show symptoms that would warrant a 100 percent rating, such as gross impairment in thought processes or communication; persistent delusions or hallucinations; grossly inappropriate behavior; persistent danger of hurting self or others; intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living (including maintenance of minimal personal hygiene); disorientation to time or place; or memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation or own name.,The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder was rated as 70 percent disabling under the General Formula for Mental Disorders (General Formula). The evidence did not show symptoms that would warrant a 100 percent rating, such as gross impairment in thought processes or communication; persistent delusions or hallucinations; grossly inappropriate behavior; persistent danger of hurting self or others; intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living (including maintenance of minimal personal hygiene); disorientation to time or place; or memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation or own name.,The Veteran's gouty arthritis of the ring and little finger on the right hand is not rated as compensable under any applicable diagnostic code. The claims for service connection for carcinoma of the prostate (previously claimed), sleep apnea syndromes, bilateral hearing loss, and diabetes mellitus type II are also remanded.,The Veteran's prostate cancer (previously claimed) was not awarded prior to April 20, 2017. The claims for service connection for carcinoma of the prostate (previously claimed), sleep apnea syndromes, bilateral hearing loss, and diabetes mellitus type II are also remanded.,The Veteran's sleep apnea syndromes were not awarded prior to April 20, 2017. The claims for service connection for carcinoma of the prostate (previously claimed), sleep apnea syndromes, bilateral hearing loss, and diabetes mellitus type II are also remanded.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was not awarded prior to April 20, 2017. The claims for service connection for carcinoma of the prostate (previously claimed), sleep apnea syndromes, bilateral hearing loss, and diabetes mellitus type II are also remanded.,The Veteran's diabetes mellitus type II was not awarded prior to April 20, 2017. The claims for service connection for carcinoma of the prostate (previously claimed), sleep apnea syndromes, bilateral hearing loss, and diabetes mellitus type II are also remanded.
- Claimed conditions
- Hypertension, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with unspecified depressive disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 16, 2019
- Citation
- 19154745
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 19154745.
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