The Veteran's claims of service connection for headaches, joint pain, sleep disorder, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder and PTSD) have been reopened. Service connection has been granted for these conditions. The rating for the low back disability is at least 40 percent throughout the appeal period, while initial ratings of 10 percent are granted for right and left lower extremity radiculopathy effective from November 13, 2013. The claim for TDIU has been remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service treatment records do not show any pre-existing conditions noted at the time of entry into service, thus the presumption of soundness applies. His headaches and sleep disorder are found to have onset during service, supported by his testimony and VA examination reports. The PTSD claim is granted based on fear of hostile military or terrorist activity.
- Claimed conditions
- headaches, joint pain, sleep disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder (depressive disorder and PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- March 26, 2022
- Citation
- 22017811
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 22017811.
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 Board has determined that the Veteran's headaches are at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected traumatic brain injury, and thus grants service connection for this condition.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete development of records and will provide a supplemental statement of the case if necessary.
- Partly granted
The Board has not made a final determination on the claims of service connection for inguinal hernia, PTSD, joint pain, fibromyalgia, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, sleep disorder, IBS, and headaches. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if these conditions are related to service.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD was granted with an initial evaluation of 50 percent, effective September 24, 2007. The appeal regarding the heart condition and sleep disorder is denied. The Veteran's hearing loss prior to August 24, 2015, warrants a 20 percent rating.
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