The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent prior to July 12, 2016 and 70 percent from July 12, 2016 onwards. The Veteran was granted a compensable rating for his bilateral hearing loss. Service connection was established for the lumbar spine disorder as secondary to PTSD with depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's PTSD symptoms resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, meeting the criteria for a 50 percent rating prior to July 12, 2016. The symptoms worsened after that date, meeting the criteria for a 70 percent rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Bilateral Hearing Loss, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Left Wrist Disorder, Left Elbow Disorder, Lumbar Spine Disorder
- How they argued it
- Secondary to another service-connected condition
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- May 8, 2020
- Citation
- 20032453
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 20032453.
What this means for you
A grant means the Board agreed the veteran was entitled to the benefit. Decisions like this show the kind of evidence and arguments that tend to succeed for claims like it.
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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