The Veteran's claim for service connection for a bilateral upper extremity disorder, to include PTSD and right hand disorder, has been reopened. The initial disability rating of 50 percent for PTSD is maintained as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating. Service connection for a chest scar is granted. However, the Veteran's bilateral shoulder, arm, and left hand arthritis are denied.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating for PTSD due to their severity and frequency, but service connection has been established for his right hand disorder and chest scar.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic-stress disorder (PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- December 18, 2017
- Citation
- 1758379
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 1758379.
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.
- Granted
The Board granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD and a total disability evaluation due to individual unemployability (TDIU) from March 31, 2021.
- Granted
The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, claimed as PTSD, is rated at 50 percent effective August 13, 2014.
- Denied
The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted. The Veteran also failed to meet the schedular criteria for TDIU as his combined overall rating was 50 percent throughout the period on appeal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the cause of death and whether service-connected PTSD contributed substantially or materially to the Veteran's death. The Appellant contends that alcohol abuse was related to his service-connected PTSD, which led to nonischemic alcohol cardiomyopathy resulting in his death.
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