The Veteran's PTSD symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating than 50 percent. The Board found that his occupational and social impairment is best described as 'occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.' For entitlement to TDIU, the evidence shows that the Veteran was last employed in April 2014 due to his service-connected disabilities, which meet the criteria for a TDIU.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's PTSD symptoms do not cause occupational and social impairment sufficient to warrant a higher rating than 50 percent under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders. The evidence does not support a finding of suicidal or homicidal ideation, near-continuous panic or depression affecting ability to function independently, appropriately and effectively, or other symptoms required for a higher rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Degenerative Right Elbow Joint Disease, Right Wrist Sprain with Arthralgia, Tinnitus, Scars from Shell Fragment Wounds, Bilateral Hearing Loss
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- September 6, 2019
- Citation
- 19169246
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 19169246.
What this means for you
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What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Denied
The Board denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus, finding that the Veteran's current conditions are not related to his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as service-connected. The claims for alcohol abuse and psychiatric disorder are remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of these conditions.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has decided to remand the case due to a need for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of the Veteran's bilateral hearing loss. The issue remains under direct service connection theory.
- Denied
The Veteran's hearing loss was rated at 30 percent, the highest non-compensable rating available. The Board found that his hearing loss did not warrant a higher rating based on VA examinations and medical records.
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