The Board denied the Veteran's request for additional vocational rehabilitation and employment benefits, including a change in his long-range goal to obtain a master’s degree in Physics. The decision concluded that achieving maximum rehabilitation gain (MRG) had been met and that changing the long-range goal would not be more likely to improve his situation.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's circumstances have improved such that he has achieved MRG, and there is no evidence suggesting that pursuing a master’s degree in Physics would lead to better employment outcomes or overcome his SEH.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Low back musculotendinous strain, Right and left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome and chondromalacia, Left ankle sprain, Bilateral foot metatarsalgia, Left and right wrist carpal tunnel syndrome, Left elbow musculotendinous strain, Tinea pedis (Athlete's Foot), Migraine headaches
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 3, 2019
- Citation
- 19190955
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 3,319 · Granted: 25% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19190955.
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Related decisions
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- 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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