An initial 70 percent rating for PTSD and depression is granted prior to July 5, 2016.,An initial rating higher than 50 percent for PTSD and depression is denied from July 5, 2016. The Veteran's attorney did not cite to any evidence dated after 2013 in support of the claim for a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The Board finds that a 70 percent rating, but no higher, is warranted prior to July 5, 2016, as the evidence documents several symptoms consistent with that level of disability.,From July 5, 2016, a rating higher than 50 percent is not warranted. The Veteran's attorney did not cite to any evidence dated after 2013 in support of the claim for a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Depression
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- August 27, 2019
- Citation
- 19166630
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,913 · Granted: 30% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
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 19166630.
What this means for you
A partial grant means some issues were granted while others were denied or remanded — common in multi-issue claims. Look at which issues went which way, and how each was argued.
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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