The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, which is the highest possible rating. The bilateral cataracts are secondary to his service-connected Type II Diabetes Mellitus and granted as a separate condition. His initial ratings for coronary artery disease remain unchanged but with an effective date of August 3, 2011. Service connection was established for PTSD prior to this date. A TDIU claim is pending.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's PTSD causes occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to symptoms such as disturbances in motivation and mood and difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relations, but not to the extent that it results in deficiencies in most areas.
- Claimed conditions
- Respiratory disorder, Bilateral cataracts (left and right eye), Type II Diabetes Mellitus, Coronary artery disease
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- November 6, 2013
- Citation
- 1336139
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 1336139.
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 heart condition was granted with an effective date of August 1, 2019. The decision is based on evidence showing exposure to diesel and gas fuel during service.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for Type II Diabetes Mellitus, Bilateral Lower Extremity Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (Sciatic Nerve), Erectile Dysfunction, and Bladder Cancer in remission. Effective dates have been set for these awards as of July 14, 2004. The Veteran's claim for higher initial disability ratings and earlier effective dates are being remanded.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and type II diabetes mellitus due to a need for additional medical opinions regarding obesity as an intermediate step in causing or aggravating these conditions, and because of potential toxic exposure during service.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since September 27, 2010. Additionally, he is in receipt of a 60 percent disability rating for coronary artery disease, which meets the criteria for SMC at the housebound rate.
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