The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, was granted. Her rating for degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine was restored to 40 percent effective September 24, 2013, after a reduction from 40 percent in July 2018. The Veteran's TDIU claim is also granted.
The deciding factor: The evidence established that the Veteran had an acquired psychiatric disorder related to military sexual harassment and assault during service, which was linked to her current symptoms by VA mental health providers.
- Claimed conditions
- Acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD and depression), Degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- February 13, 2020
- Citation
- 20011904
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 20011904.
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 Veteran's claim for an increased rating of his low back disability is being remanded due to the reduction in evaluation from 40 percent to 20 percent effective May 31, 2014. The RO needs to provide updated VA treatment records and schedule a VA examination to determine the current severity of the disability.
- Denied
The Board denied extraschedular ratings for the Veteran's service-connected lumbar spine and lower extremity radiculopathy disabilities, as well as a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to February 3, 2011.
- Denied
The Veteran's cervical strain with spinal fusion is rated at 20 percent, and the Board denied an increased rating.,The Veteran's degenerative joint disease of the lumbar spine is rated at 20 percent, and the Board denied an increased rating.
- Denied
The Veteran's claims for increased disability ratings were denied as he failed to report for scheduled VA examinations without good cause, and the evidence did not show an increase in severity of his service-connected conditions.
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