The Veteran's TDIU and DEA eligibility are granted as of February 24, 2015. Her back disability alone is sufficient to meet the criteria for a TDIU at that time. The Veteran's psychiatric condition with alcohol use disorder meets the criteria for a 70% rating since February 24, 2015.
The deciding factor: The Veteran has two or more service-connected disabilities (back disability and other specified trauma and stressor related disorder) which combine to at least a 70% combined rating as of February 24, 2015. Her back disability alone is sufficient for a TDIU.
- Claimed conditions
- Back disability, Other specified trauma and stressor related disorder with major depression and alcohol use disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 60%
- Decision date
- July 16, 2024
- Citation
- A24038536
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 A24038536.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection of a back disability, finding that there was no evidence to support a nexus between his current condition and active duty service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a back disability due to incomplete service records and failure to consider all available evidence, including in-service treatment records from F.E. Warren Air Force Base.
- Granted
The Veteran's rating for residuals status post lumbar fusion was reduced from 40 percent to 20 percent effective October 25, 2023. The reduction was granted as there was no evidence of actual improvement in the Veteran's condition prior to this date.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for a back disability is being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors and the need for a VA examination.
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