The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Major Depressive Disorder, finding that the evidence is at least in equipoise that these conditions are related to the Veteran's active duty service.
The deciding factor: The private psychologist provided a detailed analysis of the Veteran’s symptoms and concluded that his PTSD was at least as likely as not due to the Veteran’s claimed in-service stressors, which satisfied the criteria under the DSM-5. The examiner also opined that the Veteran’s MDD was at least as likely as not a direct result of his time in service.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 21, 2020
- Citation
- 20067947
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 was granted a disability rating of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder, effective October 24, 2017. The Board also granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability due to the need for a more comprehensive medical examination and opinion.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to an unclear employment history and a pre-decisional duty to assist error.
- Granted
The Board granted an effective date of July 12, 2022, for a 70 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder.
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