The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder is rated as 30 percent disabling. The Board denied a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks.,Service connection for the right shoulder disability, lumbar spine disability, and left foot disability was not granted because new evidence did not raise a reasonable possibility of substantiating the claims.,The Veteran's sleep apnea is not causally related to his military service. Service connection for migraines was also denied due to lack of causal relationship with military service.,,,
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s PTSD symptoms did not meet criteria for a higher rating as they caused occupational and social impairment but were not severe enough to affect work or social functioning significantly.,New evidence was submitted that raised the possibility of service connection, but it was insufficient to grant the claims outright due to lack of causal relationship with military service.,The Veteran's sleep apnea and migraines were not causally related to his military service, thus preventing service connection.,,,
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Right Shoulder Disability, Lumbar Spine Disability, Left Foot Disability, Sleep Apnea, Migraines
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 6, 2019
- Citation
- 19169351
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 19169351.
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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