The Veteran's claim for service connection for chest pain is denied. The initial rating of 70% for PTSD prior to June 19, 2019, and the rating in excess of 70% since that date for PTSD are both denied. The initial rating in excess of 20% for left shoulder arthritis prior to December 3, 2014, is denied. A rating of 20% for left shoulder arthritis from December 3, 2014, to September 19, 2019, is granted subject to the law and regulations governing the payment of monetary benefits. The rating in excess of 20% since September 20, 2019, for degenerative changes of the thoracolumbar spine is denied. The grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to March 28, 2014, is also denied. The claim for service connection for left upper extremity radiculopathy is remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's chest pain was found not to be related to a cardiac disability and instead linked to his PTSD. His PTSD symptoms did not meet the criteria for total occupational and social impairment prior to June 19, 2019, but have since done so. The left shoulder arthritis did not meet the criteria for an initial rating in excess of 20% from December 3, 2014, to September 19, 2019. His degenerative changes of the thoracolumbar spine were found to be at least as likely as not due to his service-connected PTSD and did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 20% since September 20, 2019. The Veteran was found unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to March 28, 2014.
- Claimed conditions
- Chest Pain, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Left Shoulder Arthritis, Degenerative Changes of the Thoracolumbar Spine
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 29, 2020
- Citation
- 20070260
Veterans Law Judge
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 20070260.
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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 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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