The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD is granted. The claim for service connection for dermatitis, due to exposures associated with Southwest Asia service, is denied. The claim for TDIU is also denied.
The deciding factor: PTSD symptoms most nearly approximate the criteria for a 70 percent evaluation throughout the initial claims period, meeting the requirements of the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders (General Rating Formula). Service connection for dermatitis was not established due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service. TDIU was denied as there is no evidence showing the Veteran's PTSD renders him unemployable.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Dermatitis
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- May 28, 2020
- Citation
- 20036771
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 20036771.
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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