The Board granted an initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD but denied a higher rating, and also denied an increased rating for tinnitus. The claim for service connection for the right shoulder condition was remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms of PTSD more closely approximated social and occupational impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent rating, but not higher. Tinnitus was rated at the maximum allowable 10 percent. The claim for service connection for right shoulder condition was remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
- Claimed conditions
- PTSD, tinnitus, right shoulder condition
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- March 20, 2025
- Citation
- A25026357
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to ensure a proper examination and etiology opinion are provided.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and somatic symptom disorder, as well as presumptive service connection for basal cell carcinoma under the PACT Act. Service connection was denied for chronic fatigue syndrome, irritable bowel syndrome, right restless leg syndrome, left restless leg syndrome, an increased rating for psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, a left forehead surgical scar, and allergic rhinitis.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for tinnitus to correct a duty to assist error, as the Veteran's lay statements regarding onset and continuity of symptoms were not adequately considered in the previous decision.
- Dismissed
The Veteran withdrew the appeals for service connection for bilateral pes planus, obstructive sleep apnea, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
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