The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent from March 30, 2011 to September 25, 2018. A TDIU due solely to service-connected PTSD is granted from March 30, 2011. The Veteran is eligible for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) from March 30, 2011. SMC benefits are granted from September 26, 2018.
The deciding factor: The Board found the Veteran's PTSD symptoms resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent evaluation from March 30, 2011 to September 25, 2018. The TDIU was granted due to the severity of the service-connected PTSD. DEA eligibility is based on the Veteran's TDIU status. SMC benefits were granted as the Veteran had a single permanent disability rated at 100 percent and additional disabilities independently ratable at 60 percent or more from September 26, 2018.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Major Depressive Disorder, Alcohol Use Disorder
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- December 25, 2023
- Citation
- A23037239
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 A23037239.
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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