The Veteran is granted a TDIU based on PTSD alone from September 9, 1991.,SMC under the provisions of 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) is granted from January 19, 2005 for his combined service-connected disabilities.,The earlier effective date for a 50 percent disability rating for residuals shell fragment wound of right shoulder muscle group I, II and III with retained foreign body combined with long thoracic nerve neuralgia is granted.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's PTSD alone rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation from September 9, 1991 onward, warranting the TDIU grant.,The Veteran has additional service-connected disabilities rated at least 60 percent disabling, meeting one of the criteria for SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s)(1).,The earlier effective date is granted as per the Veteran's withdrawal of his claims.
- Claimed conditions
- PTSD, residuals shell fragment wound of the right shoulder muscle group I, II and III with retained foreign body combined with long thoracic nerve neuralgia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- March 11, 2026
- Citation
- A26021992
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 A26021992.
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 Board of Veterans' Appeals has granted service connection for PTSD and Mood Disorders, both presumed conditions under the PACT Act.
- Partly granted
The Board has not made a final determination on the claims of service connection for inguinal hernia, PTSD, joint pain, fibromyalgia, left knee disability, right knee disability, tinnitus, chronic fatigue syndrome, respiratory disability, sleep disorder, IBS, and headaches. The claims are remanded to obtain additional evidence and determine if these conditions are related to service.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD was granted with an initial evaluation of 50 percent, effective September 24, 2007. The appeal regarding the heart condition and sleep disorder is denied. The Veteran's hearing loss prior to August 24, 2015, warrants a 20 percent rating.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has found that the Veteran meets the basic medical eligibility criteria for PCAFC benefits due to his need for personal care services based on symptoms or residuals of neurological or other impairment or injury. However, further clinical evaluation is needed to determine if participation in the program is in the Veteran's best interest.
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