The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service-connected, and the claims for right hand CTS, left hand CTS, fibromyalgia, right hip bursitis, left hip bursitis, and bilateral pes planus with hallux valgus are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service-connected based on a finding that the claimed in-service stressor actually occurred and there is credible supporting evidence of its occurrence. The claims for right hand CTS, left hand CTS, fibromyalgia, right hip bursitis, left hip bursitis, and bilateral pes planus with hallux valgus are remanded due to incomplete or inadequate medical opinions regarding the relationship between these conditions and service.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Right Hand Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS), Left Hand CTS, Fibromyalgia, Right Hip Bursitis, Left Hip Bursitis, Bilateral Pes Planus with Hallux Valgus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 3, 2026
- Citation
- A26018992
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 A26018992.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
- Denied
The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50% since March 23, 2004. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted prior to February 15, 2005 due to the severity of his symptoms and their impact on his social and occupational functioning.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and any acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current mental health conditions and his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 70% disability rating. The Veteran also met the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.
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