The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent, and service connection for a right knee condition and back condition secondary to the right knee condition are granted. The Veteran's PTSD meets criteria for a 30 percent rating based on symptomatology such as nightmares, chronic sleeping problems, hypervigilance, moderate depression, anger and irritability, avoidant behavior, impaired short term and long term memory, exaggerated startle response, intrusive thoughts, and past suicidal ideation. The Veteran's pre-existing right knee condition was aggravated by military service. A back condition did not originate in service and is not related to any incident of service.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's PTSD symptomatology does not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it does not include symptoms such as flattened affect, circumstantial or stereotyped speech, near-continuous panic attacks, difficulty understanding complex commands, impaired judgment, disturbances of motivation, and impairment in work and social relationships.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- August 5, 2009
- Citation
- 0929136
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 0929136.
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
- Denied
The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50% since March 23, 2004. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted prior to February 15, 2005 due to the severity of his symptoms and their impact on his social and occupational functioning.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and any acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current mental health conditions and his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 70% disability rating. The Veteran also met the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.
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