The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, left and right knee disabilities, shoulder disabilities, cervical spine disability, and other conditions, collectively preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment. The Board finds that the evidence is at least in equipoise regarding his employability.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, particularly his PTSD, significantly impair his occupational functioning and make it difficult for him to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Left Shoulder Disability, Right Knee Instability, Left Knee Instability, Degenerative Disc Disease of the Cervical Spine, Right Shoulder Scar, Residuals of Trauma to Right Knee with Chondromalacia, Residuals of Trauma to Left Knee with Chondromalacia, Erectile Dysfunction, Lichen Simplex Chronicus and Neurodermatitis of the Lower Abdomen and Scrotal Area, Hemorrhoids
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 15, 2015
- Citation
- 1516350
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 1516350.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
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 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.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 70% disability rating. The Veteran also met the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.
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