The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, as his earned income does not exceed the poverty threshold and he is able to maintain employment.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not significantly impair his ability to work due to their impact on his cognitive function and irritability, which are not directly related to his active duty service.
- Claimed conditions
- unspecified trauma-related disorder, depressed scar
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- November 17, 2022
- Citation
- 22064401
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 22064401.
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.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has remanded the claims of increased rating for unspecified trauma related disorder and service connection for PTSD due to in-service stressors. A new VA examination is required to determine the appropriate diagnosis and current severity of the Veteran's conditions.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's appeal for an effective date prior to April 19, 2017 for the increased 70 percent evaluation of their service-connected unspecified trauma-related disorder with adjustment disorder with mixed anxious and depressed mood has been dismissed as the Board has already adjudicated these issues in July 2021 and March 2023.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Veteran's unspecified trauma-related disorder is granted, and the claim for OSA is remanded due to a duty to assist error.
- Granted
The Veteran's service-connected unspecified trauma-related disorder is granted a 50 percent rating, but no higher. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms more nearly approximated occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.
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