The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for his service-connected acquired psychiatric disability, characterized as PTSD, was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking or mood.
The deciding factor: The VA examiners' reports indicated that the Veteran's symptoms were consistent with a 30% rating, which is the current assigned rating for PTSD. The evidence did not support higher ratings based on his symptoms and functional impairment.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic-stress disorder (PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- January 11, 2019
- Citation
- 19102779
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.
- Granted
The Board granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD and a total disability evaluation due to individual unemployability (TDIU) from March 31, 2021.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relationships, judgment, thinking or mood.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted an initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD prior to May 24, 2018. The Veteran's claim for a higher rating and TDIU is remanded due to lack of evidence regarding his employment status since January 15, 2016.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, characterized as PTSD, other than bipolar disorder, is related to his active service and grants service connection for this condition.
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