The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since the appeal period began, and she is now receiving TDIU based on her service-connected PTSD.,Service connection for fibromyalgia is not established. The VA examiner noted conflicting evidence regarding this condition.,Service connection for bilateral fungus in the external ears is not established due to lack of a current diagnosis.,Service connection for nosebleeds is not established as no etiological opinion was provided by any VA examiner.,Service connection for asthma is not established. The Veteran's service records suggest LEEP was related to cervical dysplasia, but HPV status is unclear.,Service connection for renal cyst, left side is not established due to lack of a current diagnosis and the possibility that urinary frequency issues may be unrelated to the cyst.,Service connection for status post cervix loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) is pending as it requires clarification regarding HPV status.,The Veteran's right knee tendonitis and osteoarthritis are currently rated at 10 percent prior to October 8, 2015, and in excess of 30 percent since then. The VA examination did not comply with the requirements for a remand.,The Veteran's left shoulder degenerative arthritis is currently rated at 0 percent (non-compensable). The VA examination did not comply with the requirements for a remand.,The Veteran's left shoulder scars are currently rated as non-compensable. A new VA examination is needed to determine the number and nature of her shoulder scars and their associated symptoms.
The deciding factor: PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since the appeal period began, based on the severity of the Veteran's symptoms.,Service connection for fibromyalgia cannot be established due to conflicting evidence regarding this condition.,Service connection for bilateral fungus in the external ears is not supported by current medical records.,Service connection for nosebleeds has not been established as no etiological opinion was provided by any VA examiner.,Service connection for asthma requires clarification of whether it pre-existed and was aggravated by service or if HPV played a role.,Service connection for renal cyst, left side is not supported due to lack of current diagnosis and the possibility that urinary frequency issues may be unrelated to the cyst.,Service connection for status post cervix loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) requires clarification regarding HPV status.,The Veteran's right knee tendonitis and osteoarthritis are currently rated at 10 percent prior to October 8, 2015, and in excess of 30 percent since then. The VA examination did not comply with the requirements for a remand.,The Veteran's left shoulder degenerative arthritis is currently rated as non-compensable due to lack of current diagnosis and the need for clarification regarding its severity.,The Veteran's left shoulder scars are currently rated as non-compensable due to unclear evidence regarding their number and nature.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Fibromyalgia, Bilateral fungus in the external ears, Nosebleeds, Asthma, Renal cyst, left side, Status post cervix loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP)
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- June 28, 2018
- Citation
- 18114495
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 18114495.
What this means for you
A remand is not a loss. The Board sent the case back for more development — often a new exam or missing records — before making a final decision. Many remands later end in a grant, and the decision spells out exactly what the Board wanted to see.
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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