The Board granted service connection for shortness of breath secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, and increased the rating for his PTSD to 100 percent effective December 31, 2019. SMC was also granted from that date.
The deciding factor: The August 2023 VA medical opinion supported the connection between the Veteran's shortness of breath and his service-connected PTSD through obesity as an intermediate step. The evidence showed significant impairment in occupational and social functioning, warranting a 100 percent rating for PTSD.
- Claimed conditions
- shortness of breath, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), eating disorder
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 100%
- Decision date
- January 16, 2024
- Citation
- 24002317
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Partly granted
The Veteran was granted a 70 percent initial disability rating for PTSD effective December 2, 2021, but the claim for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent was denied. The appeal also included claims for service connection and ratings for various conditions, some of which were granted while others were remanded.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of October 17, 2022, for the grant of service connection for PTSD.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for headaches and increased ratings for left shoulder rotator cuff tear, right shoulder rotator cuff tear, hypertension, and left and right leg restless leg syndrome. The Board denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeal for an increased rating of his service-connected PTSD during a Board hearing, and the appeal is therefore dismissed.
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