The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, finding that it is aggravated by the Veteran's service-connected ventral hernia. The rating for the ventral hernia was increased to 20 percent and a separate 20 percent rating was granted for painful abdominal scars secondary to the hernia.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the evidence was in equipoise as to whether the acquired psychiatric disability is aggravated by the service-connected ventral hernia, granting service connection on this basis.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired Psychiatric Disability
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- May 21, 2020
- Citation
- 20035623
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 20035623.
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 acquired psychiatric disability is rated at 100 percent, and he is granted SMC based on housebound status. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is dismissed as moot due to the grant of a 100 percent schedular rating for his service-connected acquired psychiatric disability.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to her military service and not a pre-existing condition. The decision also acknowledges that her service-connected disabilities may have contributed to her current mental health issues.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disability is being remanded due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The AOJ will now consider these claims on their merits.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claims for PTSD, rhinitis, and sinusitis are being remanded due to the need for additional examinations to determine if these conditions are related to her military service.
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