The claim for PTSD is dismissed. The claim for major depressive disorder is granted. Claims for increased rating and service connection are remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's current diagnosed major depressive disorder was related to his experiences while on active service in Vietnam, as evidenced by VA medical opinions linking the condition to his in-service stressors.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Major depressive disorder, Rheumatoid arthritis of the left shoulder, Peripheral neuropathy of the left upper extremity, Rheumatoid arthritis of the left hand, Peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, Essential tremors of the left hand with dystonia, Essential tremors of the right hand with dystonia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 19, 2019
- Citation
- 19172490
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 19172490.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 70% disability rating. The Veteran also met the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.
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