The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and Depression have been reopened due to the submission of new evidence that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate these claims.,A total disability rating based on individual unemployability has been granted due to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for myasthenia gravis is remanded as additional VA medical opinion is needed regarding its onset and relationship to his service-connected conditions.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and Depression, is remanded as a new VA examination is required to determine the nature of these disorders and their relationship to service or other factors.,The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for degenerative disc disease, lumbar spine with radiculitis, is remanded due to the need for a new VA examination to assess its current severity.,The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for inguinal hernia is remanded as additional VA treatment records are needed.,The Veteran's claims for higher ratings for prostate cancer residuals (including incontinence) are remanded due to the need for a new VA examination and consideration of recent medical evidence.
The deciding factor: New and material evidence has been submitted that relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the service connection claims for PTSD and Depression.,The Veteran's disabilities meet the percentage requirements set forth in 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(a) for award of a TDIU rating on a schedular basis, and he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.,Additional VA medical opinion is needed regarding whether myasthenia gravis had an onset in service, is related to service, or is aggravated by a service-connected disability.,A new VA examination is required to determine the nature of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders and their relationship to service or other factors.,The need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's lumbar spine disability due to lack of active and passive range of motion testing in weight bearing and non-weight bearing as per Correia v. McDonald, 28 Vet. App. 158 (2016).,Additional VA treatment records are needed to determine the current severity of the Veteran's inguinal hernia.,A new VA examination is required to consider recent medical evidence and assess the current severity of the Veteran's prostate cancer residuals.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Myasthenia Gravis, Acquired Psychiatric Disorder (to include PTSD and Depression), Degenerative Disc Disease, Lumbar Spine with Radiculitis, Inguinal Hernia, Prostate Cancer Residuals (including incontinence)
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 9, 2018
- Citation
- 18116813
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 18116813.
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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