The Veteran is granted a TDIU effective September 14, 2011. She is also granted an increased rating of 70 percent for her service-connected PTSD with headaches and secondary major depressive disorder. The Veteran's lumbosacral strain was previously rated at 10 percent prior to January 23, 2015, but the Board found that a higher rating is warranted effective from that date.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s service-connected PTSD with headaches and secondary major depressive disorder rendered her unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment. The lumbosacral strain was rated at 70 percent effective January 23, 2015, based on the severity of her symptoms.
- Claimed conditions
- lumbosacral strain, PTSD with headaches and secondary major depressive disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- April 17, 2019
- Citation
- 19129992
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for lumbosacral strain, finding that the Veteran's low back injury occurred during a period of active duty for training (ADT) and continued therefrom.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 20 percent rating for right leg sciatica with radiculopathy pain and paresthesia, but denied increased ratings for PTSD, lumbosacral strain, left wrist limitation of motion with ganglion cyst, and service connection for headaches, unspecified. Several issues were remanded.
- Dismissed
The appeals for restoration of ratings and for a higher disability rating were dismissed as the April 2025 rating decision did not make final decisions on these issues.
- Partly granted
The Board denied a disability rating greater than 10 percent for tinnitus and a rating greater than 20 percent for lumbosacral strain, but granted a 20 percent rating for left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy and right lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy.
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