The veteran's PTSD claim is granted, and her low back disability rating is increased to 60 percent effective February 15, 1994. The veteran's initial request for a higher rating for the low back disability from September 23, 2002, remains pending.
The deciding factor: The evidence supports service connection for PTSD based on credible supporting evidence of sexual assault in service and behavior changes post-assault. For the low back disability, the evidence shows limitation of motion without neurologic impairment, warranting a maximum 60 percent rating under the former criteria.
- Claimed conditions
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Low Back Disability
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- March 20, 2006
- Citation
- 0608035
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 an earlier effective date for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, as it needs a medical opinion addressing the nature and etiology of the condition prior to October 16, 2023.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.
- Partly granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another since September 30, 2020.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for headaches and right hand strain, increased the ratings for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, dyshidrotic eczema, and hypertension, and denied service connection for Parkinsonism, pes planus/flat feet, GERD, tinea versicolor, allergic rhinitis, and tinnitus. The Board also granted a TDIU.
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