The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to new and material evidence having been presented.,An initial rating in excess of 100 percent for COPD is denied. An effective date earlier than May 21, 2010 for the grant of service connection for COPD is also denied.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than May 21, 2010 for the grant of service connection for depression with agoraphobia and panic disorder symptoms associated with COPD is being remanded. The earliest possible effective date is May 21, 2010.,The Veteran's claim for an effective date earlier than February 10, 2012 for the grant of special monthly compensation at the housebound rate remains remanded.
The deciding factor: New and material evidence has been presented to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for PTSD.,The Veteran is currently rated at 100 percent for COPD, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The Veteran's claim for an increased rating remains remanded as there is no legal basis for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 6604.,The effective date of service connection for depression with agoraphobia and panic disorder symptoms associated with COPD is being determined based on the earliest possible date, which is May 21, 2010. The Veteran's claim remains remanded as there are no prior unadjudicated claims that would affect this determination.,The effective date for special monthly compensation at the housebound rate is being determined based on the earliest possible date, which is May 21, 2010. The Veteran's claim remains remanded as there are no prior unadjudicated claims that would affect this determination.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Chronic Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Depression, Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Sleep Disorder
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- August 14, 2018
- Citation
- 18126219
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 18126219.
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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