The Veteran's PTSD caused occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, warranting a 30 percent disability rating. The symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The Veteran’s PTSD manifested as some sleep impairment, avoidance of triggering events, estrangement, irritability, exaggerated startle response and hypervigilance, but did not result in reduced reliability or productivity due to such symptoms as flattened affect, circumstantial speech, panic attacks more than once a week, difficulty understanding complex commands, etc.
- Claimed conditions
- anxiety and depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), nightmare disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- July 1, 2019
- Citation
- 19151002
Veterans Law Judge
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 19151002.
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 has determined that new and relevant evidence has been submitted for the claim of entitlement to TDIU, which is being remanded. The issue of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is also being remanded due to conflicting medical opinions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for depression, other specified trauma- and stressor-related disorder with alcohol use disorder, severe, and PTSD due to inadequate medical opinions provided by VA examiners.
- Denied
The Veteran's initial compensable rating for left ear hearing loss and a higher rating for PTSD are both denied.
- Granted
The Veteran's death was caused by or secondary to a service-connected disorder, and the Board has granted entitlement to a service-connected burial allowance. However, the appellant's claim for a plot/interment allowance is denied as she did not incur any costs associated with such an interment.
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.