The Board granted service connection for unspecified depressive disorder and other specified anxiety disorder, but denied or remanded the claims for service connection for a recurrent temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disability, prostatitis, erectile dysfunction, left elbow disability, esophageal disability to include GERD, gastrointestinal disability to include IBS, headache disability, right shoulder disability, heart disability, bilateral foot disability, and compensable ratings for hemorrhoids and allergic rhinitis.

The deciding factor: The Board found that the evidence was at least in equipoise as to whether the diagnosed unspecified depressive disorder and other specified anxiety disorder originated during active service. The TMJ disability claim was denied due to lack of competent medical evidence supporting a diagnosis, while other claims were remanded for further development.

Claimed conditions

Unspecified depressive disorder, Other specified anxiety disorder, Recurrent temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disability, Recurrent prostate disability to include prostatitis, Erectile dysfunction, Recurrent left elbow disability, Recurrent esophageal disability to include gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Recurrent gastrointestinal disability to include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), Recurrent headache disability, Recurrent right shoulder disability, Recurrent heart disability to include bradycardia, Recurrent bilateral foot disability to include pes planus and plantar fasciitis, Compensable rating for hemorrhoids, Compensable rating for allergic rhinitis

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

Gulf War

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

October 6, 2025

Citation

A25085836

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