The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has precluded him from securing and following any substantially gainful occupation since January 22, 2015. The Board granted a TDIU based on the PTSD disability. Additionally, the Veteran is entitled to SMC at the housebound rate due to his combined 100 percent schedular rating for service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected PTSD alone has precluded him from securing and following any substantially gainful employment since January 22, 2015.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Left Shoulder Dislocation with Acromioclavicular (AC) separation, status post open reduction internal fixation, Sleep Apnea, Left Peroneal Nerve Palsy, Diabetes Mellitus, Left Elbow Disability, Right Elbow Disability, Lumbar Spine Disability, Cervical Spine Disability, Left Tibia Disability, Bilateral Pes Planus, Right Knee Disability, Glaucoma, Tinnitus, Right Thigh Disability, Left Thigh Disability, Right Lower Extremity Sciatica, Disabilities of the Right Index Finger, Hearing Loss, Scars, Erectile Dysfunction, Tension Headaches
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- February 25, 2020
- Citation
- 20013898
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 20013898.
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.
- 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 service-connected knee disabilities are rated at 10% each, and the Board finds that higher ratings are not warranted based on the evidence of record.
- 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.
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