The Veteran's claim for PTSD service connection is granted with an effective date of March 9, 2001. The appeal for DEA benefits is denied as the earliest possible effective date is March 9, 2001 due to his permanent total disability from PTSD. Service connection for myocardial infarction and coronary artery disease is remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's claim for service connection was received after one year of separation from active duty, thus the effective date cannot be prior to March 9, 2001. The appeal for DEA benefits is denied as there is no other basis for eligibility prior to March 9, 2001. Service connection for myocardial infarction and coronary artery disease requires an opinion on whether these conditions are aggravated by PTSD.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Myocardial Infarction, Coronary Artery Disease
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 18, 2018
- Citation
- 18143124
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 18143124.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD, finding the appellant's symptoms did not more closely approximate occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
- Granted
The Board granted a disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD and a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of February 21, 2007, for the award of service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder with anxious distress.
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