The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD with TBI was denied, but his claim for a higher rating for thoracic strain from October 21, 2021, was granted.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner noted that the Veteran's symptoms of PTSD and TBI overlapped significantly, making it impossible to determine their individual impact without speculation.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with symptoms of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) with Ulcerative Colitis, Thoracic Strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 40%
- Decision date
- January 27, 2022
- Citation
- 22004635
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 22004635.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, left knee disorder, right knee disorder, right shoulder disorder, and thoracic strain has been remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.,The Board found that there is no current evidence of a diagnosed condition for any of these issues.
- Denied
The Veteran's service-connected right and left shoulders have been rated at 20 percent since March 1, 2010. The claims for higher ratings remain denied.,Service connection has not been granted for the Veteran’s thoracic strain and lumbar spondylosis.
- Denied
The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right shoulder disorder and thoracic spine disorder, finding that there is no evidence to support these conditions began during or are otherwise related to his military service.
- Denied
The Veteran's thoracic strain and lumbosacral degenerative disc disease are currently rated at 10 percent, but do not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on limitation of motion or neurological involvement.
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