The veteran's PTSD did not cause occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, resulting in a denial of an initial rating in excess of 30 percent.
The deciding factor: The veteran's symptoms were found to be consistent with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, which is more closely aligned with the criteria for a 30 percent rating rather than higher.
- Claimed conditions
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Gunshot wound, Muscle Group I, left shoulder, with osteoarthritis and scar
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 8, 2009
- Citation
- 0900806
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The appeal concerning the service connection for various conditions and the propriety of a rating reduction has been withdrawn by the Appellant.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for degenerative joint disease of the right hip, left hip, and left shoulder, as well as PTSD. The claim for a higher rating for the right knee scar was denied.
- Dismissed
The Board denied the veteran's appeals for service connection due to untimely filings.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, due to inadequate medical opinions and a Stegall violation.
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