The Veteran's application to reopen a claim for left foot Achilles tendonitis was denied. The claim for traumatic brain injury was reopened, but the initial rating in excess of 10 percent for radiculopathy of the lower extremities and effective date prior to December 18, 2013 for PTSD were denied.,The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 50 percent since December 18, 2013.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not meet the definition of material evidence and thus did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims for left foot Achilles tendonitis and traumatic brain injury. The clinical disability picture for radiculopathy was found to be mildly disabling.,PTSD symptoms were found to be consistent with a 50 percent rating, as they caused occupational and social impairment.
- Claimed conditions
- left foot Achilles tendonitis, traumatic brain injury, radiculopathy of the left lower extremity, radiculopathy of the right lower extremity, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 30, 2018
- Citation
- 18154609
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 18154609.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
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The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his alleged stressors.
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