The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for her L5-S1 disc herniation with spinal stenosis was granted, and she is now rated at 20 percent. The Board denied service connection for PTSD due to the Veteran's report of in-service stressors being not credible. The claim for personality disorder was reopened based on new evidence received since March 2010 decision, but it did not meet the criteria for reopening as the new evidence was either cumulative or redundant. The Veteran is now rated at 70 percent for bipolar disorder effective from March 24, 2011 and granted a TDIU prior to that date.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's report of in-service stressors was not credible, thus denying service connection for PTSD. The new evidence received since the last denial did not provide any information or evidence that would change this decision.
- Claimed conditions
- L5-S1 disc herniation with spinal stenosis (also claimed as spondylolisthesis)
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- September 18, 2014
- Citation
- 1441866
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 1441866.
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 service-connected lumbar disability was evaluated at a 10 percent rating prior to July 5, 2005. The claim for PTSD and TDIU is addressed in the REMAND portion of this decision.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining SSA records and providing proper notice regarding secondary service connection.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was reopened due to the submission of new and material evidence. The appeal is granted as his PTSD is now considered service-connected.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection of a left leg disability is reopened, and the appeal is granted.
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