The Veteran's PTSD with depressed mood was granted a 70 percent evaluation prior to December 28, 2022, and the claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 70 percent on or after that date was denied. Several service connection claims were remanded.
The deciding factor: The presence of suicidal ideation supported the grant of a higher rating, but there was no evidence of gross impairment in thought processes or communication, persistent delusions or hallucinations, etc., required for a 100 percent evaluation.
- Claimed conditions
- PTSD with depressed mood, left knee disorder, headaches, left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, right hand disorder, left hand disorder, right elbow and arm disorder, left elbow and arm disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- January 30, 2024
- Citation
- 24004737
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.
- Dismissed
The appeal for a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss, service connection for right ear hearing loss, and bilateral vision condition was dismissed. Service connection for hypertension, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease was denied.
- 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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 20 percent disability rating for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy from April 3, 2023 onward, but denied higher ratings prior to that date. Service connection was also granted for alcohol use disorder as secondary to PTSD with traumatic brain injury.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for an increased initial disability evaluation of headaches due to an inadequate VA examination.
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