Strategy Review · Attorney Brief

VBMS Reviewer | Public sample | 05/01/2026

Attorney verification required.

This briefing organizes source-backed review candidates. It is not legal advice, not a filing recommendation, and not a date calculation.

Executive Snapshot

Current combined rating80%

Active alert candidates1

Priority review focuses4

Attorney verificationRequired

Four potential review focus candidates were assembled from structured artifacts. Current combined rating candidate: 80%. Not a filing recommendation.

Key Current Ratings

Posttraumatic stress disorder with TBI

70%grantedCurrent from: 07/15/2020Document-level source

S-004 Rating Decision Codesheet · Document-level source · High

Migraine headaches

50%grantedCurrent from: 09/02/2023Document-level source

S-006 Rating Decision Narrative · Document-level source · High

Right knee strain with limitation of flexion

20%grantedCurrent from: 03/18/2024Document-level source

S-014 Rating Decision Codesheet · Document-level source · High

Tinnitus

10%grantedCurrent from: 05/10/2018Document-level source

S-002 Rating Decision Narrative · Document-level source · High

Left ankle sprain residuals

10%grantedCurrent from: 07/15/2020Document-level source

S-004 Rating Decision Codesheet · Document-level source · High

Top Potential Review Focuses

Intent to File

Active ITF expiration candidate requiring verification.

Right knee strain

Rating-change/restoration review candidate.

PTSD with TBI

Employment/TDIU development candidate.

Migraine headaches

Rating and effective-date verification candidate.

Open Questions

Was the 04/15/2026 ITF satisfied by a later completed claim?

Are employer records or wage records available for work-impact verification?

Docket & Alert Signals

Open Deadlines & Actions in the authenticated workspace for full review.

Active Alert Candidates

ITF expiration candidate

Event date: 04/15/2026

Candidate due date: 04/15/2027

needs_verificationAttorney verification required

S-001 Intent to File Letter · Document-level source · High

Future Candidate Dates

No additional future candidate dates in this sample.

Verified Reminders

Reminder candidates available after verification

90 / 60 / 30 / 14 / 7 / 1 day offsets can be scheduled after the date is verified.

Source-review items (3)

ITF source-review candidate

Verify whether a completed claim satisfied the 04/15/2026 ITF.

S-001 Intent to File Letter · Document-level source · High

Low-confidence procedural review

Review-window candidate date for right knee reduction is historical and requires posture verification.

S-014 Rating Decision Narrative · Document-level source · High

Missing source review

Employment documents are referenced but not present in the sample set.

S-030 Lay / Employer Statement · Document-level source · High

Priority Issue Briefs

Right knee strain with limitation of flexion

granted20%Current from: 03/18/2024Needs verification

Rating-change/restoration review candidate

Open this issue in Case Board from the authenticated workspace.

Why this is in the brief

Rating history shows a reduction from 30 percent to 20 percent, and the sample contains flare-up and functional-loss evidence requiring attorney verification.

Latest Decision

03/18/2024 - reduced - S-014 Rating Decision Narrative

Attorney Review Candidates

Restoration or rating-change review candidateEvidence development candidateReview-window candidate date verification

Top Favorable Facts

02/14/2024 Knee DBQ measured flexion limited to 45 degrees during flare-ups and documented painful motion.

S-016 Knee DBQ · Document-level source · High

HighDBQ/C&P findings

01/29/2024 VA treatment note references brace use and physical therapy referral.

S-022 VA Treatment Note · Document-level source · High

Mediummedical evidence

Top Unfavorable Facts

03/18/2024 Decision reduced the evaluation to 20 percent, citing improved range-of-motion measurements.

S-014 Rating Decision Narrative · Document-level source · High

Highrating facts

02/14/2024 No recurrent instability was recorded on the sample DBQ.

S-016 Knee DBQ · Document-level source · High

Highmedical evidence

Evidence gaps / warnings (1)

Underlying imaging not included

The DBQ references imaging but the sample does not include the radiology report.

medium

PTSD with traumatic brain injury

granted70%Current from: 07/15/2020Needs verification

Employment/TDIU development candidate

Open this issue in Case Board from the authenticated workspace.

Why this is in the brief

The sample includes occupational impairment facts and medication-management evidence, but lacks wage/attendance records.

Latest Decision

03/18/2024 - continued - S-014 Rating Decision Narrative

Attorney Review Candidates

Employment/TDIU development candidateRating review candidateEvidence development candidate

Top Favorable Facts

02/20/2024 C&P mental health examination recorded occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

S-017 Mental Health DBQ · Document-level source · High

HighDBQ/C&P findings

03/01/2024 Supervisor statement references reduced reliability during periods of sleep impairment.

S-030 Lay / Employer Statement · Document-level source · High

Mediumlay/employment evidence

Top Unfavorable Facts

03/18/2024 Decision did not identify total occupational and social impairment.

S-014 Rating Decision Narrative · Document-level source · High

Highrating facts

Evidence gaps / warnings (1)

Employment documentation missing

No wage history, attendance records, or employer accommodation records are included in the public sample.

medium

Migraine headaches

granted50%Current from: 09/02/2023Needs verification

Rating review / effective-date verification candidate

Open this issue in Case Board from the authenticated workspace.

Why this is in the brief

The sample includes 50 percent headache rating facts, but longitudinal frequency and work-impact documentation remain incomplete.

Latest Decision

09/02/2023 - increased - S-006 Rating Decision Narrative

Attorney Review Candidates

Rating review candidateEffective-date verification candidateEvidence development candidate

Top Favorable Facts

08/17/2023 Headache DBQ records characteristic prostrating attacks occurring more than once per month.

S-011 Headaches DBQ · Document-level source · High

HighDBQ/C&P findings

08/17/2023 Veteran reported leaving work early during severe migraine episodes.

S-011 Headaches DBQ · Document-level source · High

Highfunctional impact

Top Unfavorable Facts

08/17/2023 No headache diary, attendance record, or wage-loss source was included in the reviewed sample.

S-011 Headaches DBQ · Document-level source · High

Mediumevidence gap

Evidence gaps / warnings (1)

Longitudinal severity evidence

No headache log or treatment chronology is included in the public sample.

medium

Lumbar strain claimed secondary to knee condition

deniedRating not foundNeeds verification

Older unfavorable decision / evidence-development candidate

Open this issue in Case Board from the authenticated workspace.

Why this is in the brief

The sample contains a denied secondary theory and a negative opinion, but no alternate nexus or aggravation evidence.

Latest Decision

03/18/2024 - denied - S-014 Rating Decision Narrative

Attorney Review Candidates

Evidence development candidateStatus verification candidate

Top Favorable Facts

01/18/2024 Treatment record notes intermittent low back pain after prolonged standing.

S-020 VA Treatment Summary · Document-level source · High

Mediummedical evidence

Top Unfavorable Facts

02/22/2024 VA examiner provided a negative secondary relationship opinion.

S-018 Back Medical Opinion · Document-level source · High

Highmedical opinion

Evidence gaps / warnings (1)

Aggravation rationale needs review

The decision summary does not clearly show whether aggravation was separately addressed.

medium

Evidence Development

Employment evidence needs verification

Issue: PTSD/TBImediumAttorney verification required

Request or verify wage history, attendance records, employer statements, or accommodation evidence if relevant to attorney review.

Updated treatment records candidate

Issue: right kneemediumAttorney verification required

Underlying imaging and orthopedic follow-up records are referenced but not included in the public sample.

Headache frequency evidence candidate

Issue: migraine headachesmediumAttorney verification required

No headache diary, treatment chronology, or attendance record is included in the reviewed sample.

Secondary nexus evidence candidate

Issue: lumbar strainmediumAttorney verification required

The sample contains a negative opinion but no alternate causation or aggravation opinion.

Low Confidence / Needs Verification (5)

Document-level citation only

Several source references identify documents but not pinpoint pages in this public sample.

Procedural posture verification

Review-window and ITF candidate dates require attorney verification.

Source documents not included

The public sample does not include source PDFs.

Source Index

S-014 Rating Decision Narrative

03/18/2024

Document-level source

Facts: 12

Used in: posture, current ratings, issue decisions