The Veteran's claim for inclusion of PTSD as a component of his service-connected psychiatric disorder was denied. The Board found that the Veteran is already compensated for all of his psychiatric symptomatology by means of his service-connected adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, and no separate and distinct symptoms from those already contemplated by that rating assignment have been demonstrated in the record.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's claim involves symptoms that are already accounted for in the disability rating for adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood, thus assigning a rating for PTSD would constitute impermissible pyramiding.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Adjustment Disorder with Mixed Anxiety and Depressed Mood
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 20, 2011
- Citation
- 1139134
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 1139134.
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 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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