The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since February 29, 2012. The Board found that the Veteran met the criteria for a 70 percent rating based on his symptoms of suicidal and homicidal ideation; depressive disorder; alcohol use disorder; anger and irritability, including physical and verbal altercations with former colleagues and strangers, and causing him to verbally abuse his spouse; sleep disturbances and chronic sleep impairment; nightmares; intrusive thoughts and flashbacks; guilt; avoidance of distressing memories, thoughts, feelings, and external reminders of his in-service stressors; avoidance of crowds; feelings of detachment and estrangement from others; flattened affect; difficulty concentrating; hypervigilance; exaggerated startle response; depressed mood; persistent inability to experience positive emotions; anxiety; panic attacks in large crowds and at social gatherings; tension; headaches when discussing in-service trauma; suspiciousness; difficulty establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships; difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances; impaired impulse control; lack of motivation to participate in activities; and reckless or self-destructive behavior.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's PTSD symptoms, including suicidal and homicidal ideation, depressive disorder, alcohol use disorder, anger and irritability, sleep disturbances, nightmares, intrusive thoughts and flashbacks, guilt, avoidance behaviors, and other psychiatric symptoms, met the criteria for a 70 percent rating under Diagnostic Code 9411.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Depressive Disorder, Alcohol Use Disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- January 3, 2018
- Citation
- 1800168
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. Read the original VA decision (opens in a new tab) using citation 1800168.
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.
- 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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