The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for further development, including a new VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected PTSD and an internal medicine specialist opinion regarding whether his combined disability picture prevents him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The decision requires additional evidence and argument due to the need for comprehensive evaluations addressing occupational and social impairment related to PTSD, as well as a determination on the Veteran's employability based on all service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Tinnitus, Residuals of a left pneumothorax, Lumbosacral strain, Degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, Left knee flexion limitation, Left knee extension limitation, Patellofemoral syndrome of the left knee
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 4, 2015
- Citation
- 1509333
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1509333.
What this means for you
A remand sends an issue back for more development, often a new examination or missing records. It does not award the benefit or decide the final outcome. The original decision explains the additional work ordered.
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 service connection for degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, finding that there is no nexus between the current disability and active duty service.
- 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.
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