Service connection for PTSD is granted, and secondary service connection for alcohol abuse disorder as secondary to PTSD is also granted.,The effective date of February 25, 2011 for left lower extremity radiculopathy is granted. The claims for bilateral knee disorders are reopened.,Increased ratings for right shoulder disability, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and right lower extremity radiculopathy are remanded. Increased rating for low back disability is also remanded.,Service connection for a bilateral foot disability, left shoulder disability, and neck disability is remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's PTSD was found to be related to his service, and secondary service connection for alcohol abuse disorder as secondary to PTSD is granted based on the VA examiner's opinion.,The evidence received since the June 2018 Board decision relates to an unestablished fact necessary to substantiate the Veteran's bilateral knee disorders claim (continuity of symptoms or nexus).,Increased ratings are remanded due to new and worsening symptoms as testified by the Veteran in his August 2022 hearing.,Service connection is remanded for a bilateral foot disability, left shoulder disability, and neck disability based on the lack of examinations addressing these specific issues.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Alcohol Abuse Disorder, Obesity, Left Lower Extremity Radiculopathy, Right Shoulder Disability, Bilateral Knee Disorders, Low Back Disability
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 23, 2023
- Citation
- 23003993
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 23003993.
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.
- 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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