The Board granted an initial rating of 70 percent, but no higher, for PTSD; a 50 percent rating, but no higher, for tension headaches prior to December 13, 2022; and a 60 percent rating, but no higher, for gastroesophageal reflux disease with irritable bowel syndrome. The claim for an initial compensable rating for esophageal condition-granuloma was denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's PTSD manifested as occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas without total occupational and social impairment; the tension headaches were productive of very frequent completely prostrating and prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability, which is the maximum schedular rating; gastroesophageal reflux disease with irritable bowel syndrome was productive of severe impairment of health; and the esophageal granuloma did not manifest symptoms distinct from the compensated service-connected gastroesophageal reflux disease.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Tension headaches, Gastroesophageal reflux disease with irritable bowel syndrome, Esophageal condition-granuloma
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- March 12, 2025
- Citation
- A25022843
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 Board granted service connection for PTSD, resolving reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor and finding that his PTSD is related to an in-service military sexual trauma (MST) during a period of ACDUTRA.
- Partly granted
The Board granted an effective date of May 17, 2019, for a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD but denied earlier effective dates for service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus.
- Partly granted
The Board granted readjudication of previously denied claims for service connection for PTSD and COPD, while remanding other issues including entitlement to service connection for an eye disorder, hypertension, tinnitus, a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss, TDIU, and an initial rating for PTSD.
- Denied
The appeal for service connection for PTSD was dismissed, and the claims for a compensable rating for the lower back scar, service connection for COPD, and peripheral artery disease were denied.
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