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
- Esophageal condition-granuloma, Gastroesophageal reflux disease with irritable bowel syndrome, Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Tension headaches
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- March 12, 2025
- Citation
- A25022843
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,432 · Granted: 29% (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 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 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.
- Granted
The Veteran's initial evaluation for tension headaches to include migraines is granted, with a rating of 50 percent effective from May 23, 2023.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for a compensable disability rating for tension and migraine headaches is remanded due to the inadequacy of the September 2020 VA examination report, which did not consider the ameliorative effects of medication.
- Granted
The Veteran's tension headaches, which have been service-connected since the grant of service connection, are found to be very frequent and completely prostrating with prolonged attacks productive of severe economic inadaptability. The Board grants an initial 50 percent rating for tension headaches prior to December 1, 2020.
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