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
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.
- Granted
The Board granted an earlier effective date of September 24, 2003, for the award of a 70 percent rating for the service-connected post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD).
- Remanded (sent back)
The appeal is remanded to the RO for further development, including verification of in-service stressors and a VA psychiatric examination.
- Partly granted
The veteran's tinnitus is service-connected, but he does not have a disability manifested by PTSD due to his active service.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
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