The petition to reopen the previously denied claim for PTSD is granted. The Veteran's low back disorder remains denied, and the issues of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability including PTSD and TDIU are remanded.
The deciding factor: New evidence has been submitted that relates to unestablished facts necessary to substantiate the claims for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disability, warranting reopening. The low back disorder claim remains denied as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under VA's rating schedule. The TDIU issue is remanded due to its inextricability with the PTSD issues.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Acquired Psychiatric Disability
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 26, 2023
- Citation
- 23024353
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 23024353.
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.
- 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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