The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, right heel disability, and irritable bowel syndrome have been granted service connection. The acquired psychiatric disorder is related to in-service stressors and secondary to service-connected disabilities. The right heel disability does not meet the criteria for a current disability. The irritable bowel syndrome began during active service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive disorder, anxiety, somatic symptom disorder, and depression, is related to in-service stressors and secondary to his service-connected degenerative disc disease. For the right heel disability, there is no current diagnosis or evidence of a disability. The irritable bowel syndrome began during active service.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disorder, Right heel disability, Irritable bowel syndrome
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 9, 2020
- Citation
- 20059110
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 20059110.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a low back disability and an increased rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder. The Board found that there was no evidence linking the current disabilities to military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case for a determination on whether injuries sustained in a November 2001 incident were in the line of duty. The claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is also remanded due to its interdependence with the line of duty issue.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to errors in the initial decision and a need for additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's gastrointestinal condition and right shoulder disability.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error in failing to obtain private treatment records from the Veteran's treating clinician.
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