The Board has granted an effective date of April 16, 2008 for the award of a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) and Dependents' Education Assistance (DEA) benefits. The decision is based on evidence showing that the Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability made him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment at least one year prior to his April 16, 2009 claim.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran’s inability to secure and follow any substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected psychiatric disability was factually ascertainable a year prior to his April 16, 2009 claim for TDIU.
- Claimed conditions
- Claustrophobia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- February 10, 2020
- Citation
- 20010722
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 20010722.
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 service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and claustrophobia, due to a need for proper notice regarding in-service assault and a VA examination.
- Granted
The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD with claustrophobia and anxiety, was related to his active service. Service connection for this condition is granted.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, requiring additional development and examination for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and various depressive disorders. The VA examiner is to review the medical records, consider the Veteran's contentions about in-service trauma, and provide a new opinion on whether these conditions are related to his military service.
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