The Veteran's mental disorder, claimed as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and an unspecified anxiety disorder, was granted service connection based on the benefit-of-the-doubt doctrine.
The deciding factor: The August 2017 non-VA psychologist diagnosed the Veteran with unspecified anxiety disorder and opined that it manifested during service due to a rescue incident. The Veteran has also been diagnosed with PTSD, facially linked to a verified in-service event.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Unspecified anxiety disorder, Thoracolumbar spine degenerative arthritis, Liver disorder, to include hepatitis C and cirrhosis, Right knee degenerative arthritis, Left knee degenerative arthritis, Diabetes mellitus type II, Enlarged spleen, Esophageal disorder, to include esophageal varices and peptic ulcer disease, Pancreas disorder, Dizziness
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- January 4, 2022
- Citation
- 22000226
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 Board granted service connection for PTSD, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor and finding that his PTSD is related to an in-service military sexual trauma (MST) during a period of ACDUTRA.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for service connection for diabetes mellitus type II and hypertension, to include as secondary to left orchiectomy, for further development in accordance with the PACT Act.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of May 17, 2019, for a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD but denied earlier effective dates for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.
- Partly granted
The Board granted readjudication of previously denied claims for service connection for PTSD and COPD, while remanding other issues including entitlement to service connection for an eye disorder, hypertension, tinnitus, a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, TDIU, and an initial rating for PTSD.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.