The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD was denied. The claims for bilateral hearing loss disability and TDIU were also denied, but the Veteran received a grant of TDIU from August 31, 2020 to August 9, 2022. The Veteran's claims for increased ratings in right lower extremity radiculopathy, left lower extremity radiculopathy, and bilateral knee osteoarthritis were remanded.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's PTSD was rated as 70 percent disabling throughout the relevant period based on symptoms that most nearly approximated deficiencies in most areas without total impairment. The Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Code 9411, which requires total occupational and social impairment.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Ventral Hernia
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 70%
- Decision date
- April 18, 2024
- Citation
- 24016669
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 24016669.
What this means for you
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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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