The Board granted service connection for other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder, denied service connection for PTSD, and denied an increased rating for the right shoulder strain. The claims for service connection for bilateral plantar fasciitis, lumbar spine, and lower extremity disorders were remanded.
The deciding factor: Service connection was granted for other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder due to a current diagnosis and a nexus to in-service hazing. PTSD was denied as the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a DSM-5 diagnosis of PTSD. The right shoulder strain rating was denied as the evidence did not support a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral plantar fasciitis, Lumbar spine disorder, Other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder, Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Radicular pain and paresthesia of right lower extremity as secondary to a lumbar spine disorder, Radicular pain and paresthesia of the left lower extremity as secondary to a lumbar spine disorder, Right shoulder strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 20%
- Decision date
- March 6, 2025
- Citation
- A25020637
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,548 · Granted: 31% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 A25020637.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the (o) rate and SMC at the (r)(2) rate, effective January 19, 2025. The decision finds that the Veteran's service-connected conditions warrant these awards due to his need for aid and attendance.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to errors in the AOJ's handling of the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder, and depression. The AOJ is required to verify the Veteran's claimed stressor and obtain medical opinions regarding the diagnoses and their relation to service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has identified a contradiction in the AOJ's determinations regarding the Veteran's need for aid and assistance, which requires clarification. The remanded issues are entitlement to SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another and on the basis of statutory housebound status.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) secondary to bilateral plantar fasciitis and left shoulder tendinitis due to inadequate medical opinion regarding causation.
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