The Veteran's PTSD was found to have been manifested by symptoms such as anxiety, irritability, occasional intrusive thoughts and nightmares (once per month), avoidance, hypervigilance, and an exaggerated startle response. The Veteran had generally satisfactory functioning with good family relationships and friends and a variety of social activities prior to May 12, 2015. Since then, the symptoms have included difficulty understanding complex commands, mild memory impairment, impaired abstract thinking, mood disturbances, and difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective social relationships.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's PTSD was found to be manifested by symptoms that did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under any diagnostic code. The disability had been stable with no significant changes in functioning or severity since May 12, 2015.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 16, 2017
- Citation
- 1707930
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 1707930.
What this means for you
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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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