The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent since May 24, 2012. The rating reflects the severity of her symptoms which include suicidal ideation, near-continuous depression, impaired impulse control, difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances, and inability to establish effective relationships.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's symptoms more closely approximate a 70 percent disability rating due to their frequency, duration, and severity compared to those required for a 100 percent rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with unspecified depressive disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- December 22, 2020
- Citation
- 20080339
Veterans Law Judge
Decisions by this judge: 1,861 · Granted: 27% (granted or partly granted, in the vetted decisions on this site)
Judge attribution: 2025 complete; earlier years partial.
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 20080339.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder is rated at 50 percent, and the Board has remanded for further development to determine if a higher rating is warranted.
- Granted
The Veteran's claim for PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder was granted, and he is now eligible for a 70% rating effective July 12, 2024. His Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) benefits were also granted as of that date.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to May 22, 2024, for the grant of service connection for PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder is denied.,The Veteran's claims for higher ratings and earlier effective dates related to his bilateral hip disabilities are remanded for further development.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, effective January 8, 2020. The Board found that the Veteran experienced occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas due to symptoms such as suicidal ideation, unprovoked anger and irritability, hypervigilance, extreme avoidant behavior, strained relationships, and memory loss.
Free starter guide for your own claim
Reading this because you were denied or under-rated? Get the plain-English next steps — your appeal options, the deadline that protects you, and how appeals like yours turn out. One email, no spam.
We will only use this to send the guide. No spam, unsubscribe any time. We never sell your information.
We are not the VA. Veterans’ Rights is an independent resource built for veterans. We are not the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, not part of the government, and not endorsed by any government agency.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.