The Board has reopened the Veteran's claims for service connection of a back disability and shoulder disability, but denied his claim for left lower extremity disability. The rating for his acquired psychiatric disability was increased to 50 percent effective February 2004. However, the Court vacated the entire May 2009 decision, including the rating determination.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a 70% rating but were consistent with a 50% rating based on occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disability, Lower back disability, Left shoulder disability, Left lower extremity disability
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- November 15, 2011
- Citation
- 1142331
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 1142331.
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.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal regarding attorney fees for past-due benefits awarded in a June 2021 rating decision is dismissed as moot due to the waiver of rights by R.V.C.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's request to readjudicate the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability with alcohol and drug abuse is granted. The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence sufficient to readjudicate the claim has been received, but further development is needed due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error regarding verification of reported deaths in service.
- Granted
The Veteran's TDIU claim for bilateral knee disabilities and his right and left knee scars have been granted. He is now rated at a combined 60% disability rating from June 1, 2018 based on bilateral factors for his bilateral knee disabilities.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for service connection for a low back condition and an acquired psychiatric disability are dismissed as procedural defects due to the overlapping nature of the appeals.
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