The Board granted service connection for headaches, chronic sinusitis, a psychiatric disability, lumbosacral strain, and chronic fatigue syndrome. The claim for bilateral hearing loss was denied.
The deciding factor: Service connection was granted based on the Veteran's in-service onset of symptoms and presumptive exposure to fine particulate matter during his service in Southwest Asia theater of operations.
- Claimed conditions
- headaches, chronic sinusitis, psychiatric disability, diagnosed as adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, General Anxiety Disorder (GAD), panic disorder, persistent depressive disorder, and alcohol use disorder, lumbosacral strain, chronic fatigue syndrome
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Agent Orange / herbicides
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 10, 2025
- Citation
- A25050758
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding that the Veteran's low back injury occurred during a period of active duty for training (ADT) and continued therefrom.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for headaches and increased ratings for left shoulder rotator cuff tear, right shoulder rotator cuff tear, hypertension, and left and right leg restless leg syndrome. The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for asthma and remanded claims for insomnia and sleep apnea. Other conditions were denied.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.