The Board has dismissed the appeals for earlier effective dates and withdrawn issues related to superficial scars, cellulitis, painful scar, radiculopathy, peripheral neuropathy, muscle damage, rib cage, hypertension, and service connection. The remaining claims of a higher rating for PTSD, cervical spine disorders, and TBI are remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran requested withdrawal of the appeals concerning earlier effective dates for various conditions and ratings. The Board has dismissed these issues as withdrawn. The remaining claims regarding higher ratings for PTSD, cervical spine disorders, and TBI are now pending and need to be addressed further.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Degenerative Arthritis of the Cervical Spine, Lumbar Strain, Residuals of a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Ear Disorder, to include Hearing Loss and Otitis Media
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 19, 2019
- Citation
- 19186789
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 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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