The Veteran meets the schedular criteria for a TDIU from February 18, 2015. However, his earlier effective date claim on an extraschedular basis is remanded due to evidence suggesting he was unable to hold a job prior to that date.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unemployable as of February 18, 2015, but the Board notes that he may have been unable to secure and follow substantially gainful employment earlier based on his PTSD symptoms.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Diabetes Mellitus type II, Peripheral Neuropathy of the lower left extremity, Peripheral Neuropathy of the lower right extremity, Tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 90%
- Decision date
- April 20, 2021
- Citation
- 21023406
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 21023406.
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 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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
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