The Veteran's claims for PTSD and bilateral lower extremity radiculopathy were received on February 9, 2011. The Board denied effective dates prior to this date.,Initial disability ratings in excess of 20 percent each for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy are not warranted based on the evidence of record.,The Veteran's entitlement to SMC at the housebound rate is not granted as he does not meet the criteria for a single service-connected disability rated as 100% disabling.
The deciding factor: The effective dates were denied because the claims were received within one year of separation from service and no prior communications supported earlier effective dates.,The evidence did not show that the Veteran's radiculopathy warranted a higher rating than 20 percent, as there was no evidence of severe or moderately severe impairment.,The Veteran does not meet the criteria for SMC at the housebound rate due to lack of a single disability rated as 100% disabling and unemployability based on service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Left Lower Extremity Radiculopathy, Right Lower Extremity Radiculopathy
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 27, 2020
- Citation
- 20069569
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
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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