The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 100% disability rating for the entire appeal period. The Board also dismissed his claim for TDIU as moot due to the already assigned 100% schedular rating for PTSD. His claims for service connection of substance abuse disorder and left ear hearing loss are remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's PTSD is found to cause total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100% disability rating under DC 9411. The TDIU claim was moot as the Veteran already received a 100% schedular rating for PTSD. Service connection claims for substance abuse disorder (secondary) and left ear hearing loss are remanded due to insufficient medical opinions.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Substance Abuse Disorder, Left Ear Hearing Loss
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating
- Not verified here — check the original decision
- Decision date
- May 21, 2018
- Citation
- 18103743
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 18103743.
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
Use your own notice and decision stage. A remanded issue is not a final court-appealable denial. VA review guidance and CAVC filing instructions (U.S. federal; reviewed October 7, 2026).
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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.
- Whole decision: 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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