The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date, service connection for anxiety separate from PTSD, and a higher rating for lumbar strain.

The deciding factor: The evidence did not support an earlier effective date or a separate diagnosis of anxiety. The Veteran’s lumbar strain was rated based on the current level of disability without meeting criteria for a higher rating.

Claimed conditions

migraines, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with secondary insomnia, alcohol use disorder (AUD), and unspecified depressive disorder, anxiety disability separate from PTSD, lumbar strain

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

February 26, 2025

Citation

A25017063

Want to see how appeals like this one tend to go? Appeals like mine