The Veteran's claim for an increased initial rating of 70 percent for his acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The claim for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for the same condition is denied. New and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for a cervical strain (now also claimed as a neck disability). Service connection for PTSD, tinea versicolor, and sinusitis is denied. Service connection for other conditions related to Gulf War exposures and other hazardous exposure is remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder has been rated at the maximum schedular rating of 70 percent due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.
- Claimed conditions
- Other specified trauma- and stressor-related disorder, Cervical strain (now also claimed as a neck disability), Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Tinea versicolor, Sinusitis
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- March 31, 2023
- Citation
- 23020068
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 23020068.
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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