The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for his unspecified trauma-and-stressor-related disorder was denied. The Board found that the overall severity level of the Veteran’s social and occupational impairment due to his mental disorder most closely approximates occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks, warranting a 30 percent rating.
The deciding factor: The evidence showed symptoms such as anxiety, depressed mood, suspiciousness, and chronic sleep impairment that are listed under the 30 percent rating criteria for mental disorders. The Veteran's reports were considered in conjunction with VA evaluations of his mental health, which did not suggest any specialized training or experience to evaluate the clinical significance of his symptomatology.
- Claimed conditions
- unspecified trauma-and-stressor-related disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 30%
- Decision date
- June 24, 2020
- Citation
- 20042700
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 20042700.
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.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for an unspecified trauma-and-stressor-related disorder, finding it to be causally related to the Veteran's active duty.
- Denied
The Veteran's claim for increased rating of his service-connected unspecified trauma-and-stressor-related disorder is denied. However, a 70% rating is granted effective from April 1, 2021, for the condition. The Veteran's claim for TDIU prior to October 20, 2021, remains denied.
- Denied
The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for his service-connected lumbar myositis, psychoneurosis and conversion hysteria, residuals of shrapnel wounds of the left thigh and pelvis with retained foreign bodies and scars, and residuals of shell fragment wounds of the right thigh and left leg. The veteran was also denied entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 10 percent for his service-connected coronary artery disease, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating based on the severity of his condition.
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