The Veteran's TBI and PTSD have been granted service connection.,An increased rating of 70 percent for PTSD has been granted, effective from the date of this decision.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to inadequate examination report.,Service connection for left knee disability, right knee disability, and respiratory condition are remanded as no VA examination was provided.,Bruxism secondary to TBI is also remanded.,Right shoulder disability and low back disability ratings are remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's TBI and PTSD have been linked to service through medical evidence, including a VA psychologist's opinion on the effect of an explosion on his brain.,The Veteran's PTSD symptoms meet criteria for a 70 percent rating due to significant impairment in social and occupational functioning.,Service connection is granted based on VA examination findings that support hearing loss.,No VA examination was provided, so service connection cannot be determined without one.,Bruxism is secondary to TBI as suggested by treatment records.,Right shoulder disability and low back disability ratings are remanded due to lack of recent medical evaluation.
- Claimed conditions
- Traumatic Brain Injury, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Bilateral Hearing Loss, Left Knee Disability, Right Knee Disability, Respiratory Condition, Bruxism
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- July 2, 2021
- Citation
- 21040139
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 21040139.
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.
- 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 Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are not related to his active service, and thus denied both claims for service connection.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claims for alcohol abuse and psychiatric disorder are remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a right knee disability, finding that there is no evidence to support an etiological relationship between his current condition and his military service.
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