The veteran's PTSD has been shown to result in occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, due to symptoms such as suicidal ideation; near-continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function independently, appropriately, and effectively; impaired impulse control; difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances; an inability to establish and maintain effective relationships. The veteran's service-connected disabilities preclude her from securing and following substantially gainful employment.
The deciding factor: The veteran's PTSD symptoms, including suicidal ideation, near-continuous panic or depression, impaired impulse control, and difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances, resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas. Additionally, the veteran was unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation due to her service-connected disabilities.
- Claimed conditions
- post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder, panic disorder with agoraphobia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- April 15, 2008
- Citation
- 0812543
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 2,435 · Granted: 22% (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 0812543.
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 Veteran's claim for specially-adapted housing assistance and a special home adaptation grant was denied because he does not meet the criteria for either benefit based on his service-connected disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding his alleged stressors.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder has been dismissed as the appellant requested withdrawal of the appeal.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided that the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, should be remanded due to a failure to verify a stressor related to the death of his two best friends in Iraq. The AOJ needs to develop this stressor.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.