The veteran's claim for an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for his service-connected PTSD was denied as the evidence did not show that his symptoms were productive of deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.
The deciding factor: The signs and symptoms of the veteran's PTSD were not shown to be productive of deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, due to such symptoms as suicidal ideation; obsessional rituals which interfere with routine activities; speech intermittently illogical, obscure, or irrelevant; near-continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function independently, appropriately and effectively; impaired impulse control (such as unprovoked irritability with periods of violence); spatial disorientation; neglect of personal appearance and hygiene; difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances (including work or a work like setting).
- Claimed conditions
- post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- February 17, 2009
- Citation
- 0905651
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,599 · Granted: 37% (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 0905651.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error in the original rating decision, and a new medical opinion is needed to address the Veteran's claim for service connection of OSA secondary to PTSD.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error in the original rating decision, and a new medical opinion is needed to address the Veteran's claim for service connection of OSA secondary to PTSD.
- Granted
The Veteran's low back disability and PTSD were granted increased ratings, but no more than the current assigned percentages. The TDIU claim was denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disorder to include depression, adjustment disorder, anxiety, and PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining VA medical examination and opinion.
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.