The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for PTSD and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 30 percent prior to November 12, 2015, or in excess of 50 percent thereafter, for his PTSD. For TDIU, the evidence showed he could still secure and follow substantially gainful employment despite his service-connected disabilities.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's PTSD did not meet the criteria for a higher rating as it did not result in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas; suicidal ideation; obsessional rituals; speech intermittently illogical, obscure, or irrelevant; near-continuous panic or depression; impaired impulse control; spatial disorientation; neglect of personal appearance and hygiene; difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances; or an inability to establish and maintain effective relationships.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- April 25, 2019
- Citation
- 19132348
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 Board remands the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD due to an inadequate medical opinion.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of February 21, 2007, for the award of service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder with anxious distress.
- Granted
The Board granted a rating of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI), as the Veteran's symptoms most nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.
- Granted
The Board granted a disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD and a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU) based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities.
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