The Board remands the issues of reduction in disability rating for PTSD with alcohol use disorder and TBI, and entitlement to special monthly compensation due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
The deciding factor: The RO did not evaluate both Diagnostic Codes 9411 and 8045 as required by Diagnostic Code 8045, Note 1, which necessitates remand for proper evaluation.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with alcohol use disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- How they argued it
- Not specified
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 21, 2025
- Citation
- A25026663
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.
- Granted
The Board granted a rating of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI), as the Veteran's symptoms most nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.
- Granted
The Veteran's effective date for the award of a 100 percent rating for PTSD with alcohol use disorder moderate and TBI was granted as of October 22, 2019.
- Denied
The Board denied earlier effective dates for the grant of service connection and increased evaluations for GERD, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and TBI.
- Denied
The Board denied an initial compensable disability rating for the Veteran's service-connected traumatic brain injury (TBI) as the evidence did not support a finding of symptoms related to TBI residuals.
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