The Veteran's claim for service connection for hypertension has been reopened and granted on a presumptive basis due to his Persian Gulf service. Service connection is also granted for fibromyalgia as a qualifying chronic disability related to his Persian Gulf service, and headaches are found to be secondary to his service-connected somatization disorder.,The Veteran's initial 70 percent rating for somatization disorder with depressive disorder, NOS, PTSD and memory loss prior to September 6, 2019 is granted. The issue of a higher rating after that date remains pending.
The deciding factor: New evidence has been submitted showing a possible link between the Veteran's hypertension and his service-connected psychiatric disability (somatization disorder).,The Veteran was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, which is considered a qualifying chronic disability for Persian Gulf service. The medical records support this diagnosis.,Headaches are found to be secondary to the Veteran's service-connected somatization disorder.
- Claimed conditions
- hypertension, fibromyalgia, headaches, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), costochondritis, somatization disorder with depressive disorder, NOS, PTSD and memory loss
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- February 21, 2023
- Citation
- 23010688
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 23010688.
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 migraines was reopened due to new evidence. Service connection is granted for painful scars, but the rating assigned remains at 10 percent. The claims for fibromyalgia and bilateral shoulder disability are denied.
- 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 claims for service connection for hypertension and peripheral neuropathy of the bilateral upper and lower extremities due to insufficient medical opinions regarding their etiology.
- 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.
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