The Veteran's TDIU for PTSD is granted effective April 1, 2020. SMC at the housebound rate is also granted from December 12, 2022 due to additional service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's PTSD prevented him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, meeting the criteria for TDIU effective April 1, 2020. The combined rating of his other service-connected disabilities met the housebound requirement for SMC as of December 12, 2022.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Right Knee Patellofemoral Syndrome with Meniscal Tear, Left Knee Patellofemoral Syndrome with Meniscal Tear and Osteoarthritis, Meniscus Tear, Left Knee, Meniscus Tear, Right Knee, Tinnitus
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- March 11, 2026
- Citation
- A26021841
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 A26021841.
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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