The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the criteria for an award of SMC at the housebound rate.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner found that the Veteran's PTSD independently caused significant impairment in his ability to establish and maintain effective work relationships and adapt to stressful circumstances, including work or a work-like setting.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease, Bilateral Lower Extremity Radiculopathy, Residuals of Right and Left Shoulder Strains, Left Ankle Avulsion Injury with Degenerative Arthritis, Tinnitus, Bilateral Hearing Loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- May 17, 2024
- Citation
- A24026148
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 A24026148.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
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