The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 70 percent rating, service connection for low back disability, bilateral upper and lower extremity peripheral neuropathy (presumptive due to exposure to herbicide agents), and TDIU are all granted. Service connection for an eye condition is dismissed.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s symptoms of PTSD more closely approximated the criteria for a 70 percent rating, resulting in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Degenerative Disc Disease of the Lumbar Spine, Right Upper Extremity Peripheral Neuropathy, Left Upper Extremity Peripheral Neuropathy, Right Lower Extremity Peripheral Neuropathy, Left Lower Extremity Peripheral Neuropathy
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- December 15, 2020
- Citation
- 20079319
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 20079319.
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 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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