The Board granted service connection for PTSD, hypertension (secondary to PTSD), a bilateral knee condition, a low back condition, a bilateral thumb condition, a cervicothoracic spine condition, right upper extremity radiculopathy (secondary to the cervicothoracic spine condition), and headaches. However, it denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.
The deciding factor: The evidence received since the April 2003 rating decision was new and material, allowing the claims for a low back disorder, bilateral knee disorders, and hypertension to be reopened. The Veteran's PTSD is related to his military service, as are the other conditions granted based on their relationship to the service-connected PTSD.
- Claimed conditions
- PTSD, hypertension (secondary to PTSD), bilateral knee condition, low back condition, bilateral thumb condition, cervicothoracic spine condition, right upper extremity radiculopathy (secondary to cervicothoracic spine condition), headaches, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 12, 2024
- Citation
- 24002076
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to ensure a proper examination and etiology opinion are provided.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and somatic symptom disorder, as well as presumptive service connection for basal cell carcinoma under the PACT Act. Service connection was denied for chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, right restless leg syndrome, left restless leg syndrome, an increased rating for psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, a left forehead surgical scar, and allergic rhinitis.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for tinnitus to correct a duty to assist error, as the Veteran's lay statements regarding onset and continuity of symptoms were not adequately considered in the previous decision.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
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