The Board granted earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for PTSD and residuals of a TBI, to include migraine headaches, but denied earlier effective dates for lumbosacral strain, cervical DDD, right upper extremity radiculopathy associated with cervical DDD, and left upper extremity radiculopathy associated with cervical DDD.
The deciding factor: The Board found that the Veteran's July 2016 correspondence contained new and material evidence to warrant reopening one or more of the issues under 38 C.F.R. § 3.156(b).
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Residuals of a traumatic brain injury (TBI), to include migraine headaches, Lumbosacral strain, Cervical degenerative disc disease (DDD), Right upper extremity radiculopathy associated with cervical DDD, Left upper extremity radiculopathy associated with cervical DDD
- How they argued it
- Reopened with new and material evidence
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 8, 2025
- Citation
- A25032287
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 882 · Granted: 22% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 A25032287.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) at the (o) rate and SMC at the (r)(2) rate, effective January 19, 2025. The decision finds that the Veteran's service-connected conditions warrant these awards due to his need for aid and attendance.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has identified a contradiction in the AOJ's determinations regarding the Veteran's need for aid and assistance, which requires clarification. The remanded issues are entitlement to SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance of another and on the basis of statutory housebound status.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeals for increased rating and earlier effective date for PTSD have been dismissed due to her withdrawal of the appeal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted service connection for a right knee scar secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right knee disability status post knee replacement. However, the rating for PTSD remains at 30 percent and needs to be re-adjudicated due to a failure to obtain private mental health treatment records.
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