The veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, and he meets the criteria for a total rating based on unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: PTSD symptoms have resulted in occupational impairment warranting a 50% disability rating. The combined disability rating of 70% also supports a finding that the veteran is unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment.
- Claimed conditions
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Residuals of a shell fragment wound of the left elbow, Tendonitis of the left shoulder, Restricted mobility of the left wrist and hand, Bronchitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- November 13, 2003
- Citation
- 0331385
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 0331385.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for asbestosis, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), rhinitis, sinusitis, and asthma. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was also denied a compensable rating.
- Partly granted
The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 70 percent rating prior to March 7, 2022, while other claims were denied.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and GAD, as well as tinnitus.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, as it needs a medical opinion addressing the nature and etiology of the condition prior to October 16, 2023.
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