The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder has been rated at 70 percent, the highest schedular rating available. The Board found that his symptoms have caused occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, including work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, and mood.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's psychiatric symptoms have resulted in near continuous depression, anxiety, irritability, panic attacks, hypervigilance, chronic sleep impairment, intrusive thoughts, memory impairment, poor concentration, difficulty understanding complex commands, lack of attention, restricted affect, circumstantial or tangential speech, disturbances of motivation and mood, low energy, feelings of detachment from others, inability to establish effective work and social relationships, difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances, impaired impulse control, and verbal aggressive outbursts.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with Major Depressive Disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- December 22, 2015
- Citation
- 1553250
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. Search VA.gov for the original decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1553250.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board allowed the benefit or issue identified in this decision. Review the original order: other issues in the same appeal may have a different outcome, and this decision does not predict another claim.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder caused significant occupational and social impairment, but not total impairment. The Board denied an initial evaluation in excess of 70 percent prior to September 26, 2019.
- Denied
The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder has resulted in occupational and social impairment, but not to the extent that would warrant a higher rating. The current 70 percent rating is maintained.
- Dismissed
The appeal for a higher rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder is dismissed as it constitutes an impermissible concurrent election under the rule against concurrent elections.
- Denied
The rating reductions from 100% to 70% for PTSD with major depressive disorder and from 40% to 30% for residual painful scars of the trunk and lower extremities were improper. The ratings have been restored.,The Veteran's service-connected conditions did not show actual improvement in her ability to function under ordinary conditions of life and work, as evidenced by consistent symptoms and functional limitations.
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