The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is granted. The initial compensable evaluation for bilateral hearing loss prior to June 1, 2021, remains in appellate status as the RO has already granted a higher rating effective from that date. Right upper, left upper, right lower, and left lower extremity neuropathies are remanded due to insufficient evidence.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service records confirm his participation in combat operations during service, which supports his reported inservice stressors related to witnessing dead bodies and fear of enemy attacks. The VA examiner did not find a diagnosis of PTSD based on the Veteran's reported symptoms, but the June 2017 private physician provided a more credible opinion linking the Veteran's current psychiatric conditions to his military service.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disorder including PTSD and major depressive disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 11, 2023
- Citation
- 23014861
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 23014861.
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
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