The Veteran's claim for an increased rating in excess of 50 percent disabling for PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder and neurocognitive disorder was denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to December 29, 2014 for the grant of service connection for tinnitus was denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to December 29, 2014 for a 50 percent rating for PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder and neurocognitive disorder was remanded.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating of 70% or 100%. The Veteran's symptoms were found to be more consistent with a 50% disability rating.,There is no indication that the Veteran was seeking an earlier effective date prior to December 29, 2014. The claim for service connection for tinnitus was received on this date and granted accordingly.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 50% disability rating for PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder and neurocognitive disorder was not supported by evidence submitted within one year of the December 29, 2014 claim. The claim was therefore considered to be filed on this date.
- Claimed conditions
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Unspecified Depressive Disorder, Neurocognitive Disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- October 31, 2019
- Citation
- 19182434
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, as it needs a medical opinion addressing the nature and etiology of the condition prior to October 16, 2023.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities.
- Partly granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another since September 30, 2020.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for headaches and right hand strain, increased the ratings for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, dyshidrotic eczema, and hypertension, and denied service connection for Parkinsonism, pes planus/flat feet, GERD, tinea versicolor, allergic rhinitis, and tinnitus. The Board also granted a TDIU.
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