The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected psychiatric disability is denied. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet the criteria for a greater than 50 percent or 70 percent rating, as they were of mild severity and frequency.
The deciding factor: The VA examiner determined that the Veteran’s symptoms did not significantly impair his ability to work or socialize, despite some memory issues and intrusive thoughts about Vietnam.
- Claimed conditions
- unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder, unspecified neurocognitive disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- June 5, 2018
- Citation
- 18108402
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 18108402.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his unspecified neurocognitive disorder, which was diagnosed after a September 2021 heart surgery. The issues are about service connection on the merits.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, diagnosed as unspecified neurocognitive disorder, is remanded due to inadequate examination and the need for additional TERA development.
- Granted
The Board has granted service connection for unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder and unspecified depressive disorder with an effective date of September 23, 2011. The decision is based on newly received service medical records that were not available when the original claim was decided in January 2013.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims for unspecified neurocognitive disorder, hypertension, and carotid artery atherosclerosis without stenosis as secondary to hypertension due to inadequate medical opinions regarding their etiology. The Veteran's exposure to burn pits during service is considered.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.