The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show total occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, due to symptoms like suicidal ideation, obsessional rituals, near-continuous panic or depression affecting ability to function independently, appropriate and effectively. For COPD, service connection was denied because there is no evidence showing the condition was initially manifested during service or as an aggravation of a pre-existing condition.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's PTSD symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating (70% or 100%), and his current symptoms do not indicate total occupational and social impairment. For COPD, there is no evidence showing it was initially manifested during service or as an aggravation of a pre-existing condition.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- January 11, 2010
- Citation
- 1001413
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 1001413.
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.
- Denied
The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD, finding the appellant's symptoms did not more closely approximate occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
- Granted
The Board granted a disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD and a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of February 21, 2007, for the award of service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder with anxious distress.
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