The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, including family relations; social avoidance; work problems such as verbal conflicts; obsessive compulsive disorder that interferes with routine activities; depressed mood and anxiety; hypervigilance and hyperarousal; impaired impulse control; and difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances. The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have not produced more severe manifestations that more nearly approximate total occupational and social impairment.,For the entire appeal period, the Veteran's chronic left knee strain is manifested by objective evidence of painful motion, extension limited to no more than zero degrees and flexion limited to no less than 130 degrees. The Veteran did not have lateral instability prior to May 4, 2015, recurrent subluxation, dislocation or removal of the semilunar cartilage, ankylosis, impairment of the tibia or fibula, or genu recurvatum.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have not produced more severe manifestations that more nearly approximate total occupational and social impairment.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Chronic Left Knee Strain
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- September 28, 2015
- Citation
- 1541943
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 1541943.
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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