The Veteran's PTSD, Major depressive disorder, and Substance abuse disorder are granted service connection. The TBI claim is remanded for further development.
The deciding factor: The Board found the Veteran had current diagnoses of PTSD and MDD, which were causally related to his verified in-service stressor. His substance abuse disorder was caused by his PTSD and MDD. For the TBI claim, additional evidence is needed as VA's duty to assist is heightened due to incomplete STRs.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Major depressive disorder, Substance abuse disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 24, 2019
- Citation
- 19180886
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.
- 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 an effective date of February 21, 2007, for the award of service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder with anxious distress.
- Granted
The Board granted a rating of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI), as the Veteran's symptoms most nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.
- 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.
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