The VA denied the veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD with alcohol abuse, as his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The veteran's PTSD symptoms are significant but do not reach the level required for a 70% disability rating due to lack of severe impairment in areas such as suicidal ideation or near-continuous panic and depression affecting independent functioning.
- Claimed conditions
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with alcohol abuse
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- October 24, 2006
- Citation
- 0632905
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,458 · Granted: 24% (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 0632905.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with alcohol abuse prior to September 16, 2013, and an earlier effective date for DEA benefits is dismissed.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol abuse is rated at 70 percent, effective April 12, 2014. He also received a TDIU and SMC from that date.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol abuse was found to warrant a rating of 70 percent, effective from the date of his death in September 2012.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with alcohol abuse has been productive of no more than occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity from June 2004.
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