The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and migraine headaches, but granted an effective date of December 13, 2020, for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.
The deciding factor: The severity, frequency, and duration of the Veteran's symptoms more closely approximated occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, but not total occupational and social impairment. The evidence did not support a higher rating for either condition.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with major depressive disorder, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and cannabis use disorder, Migraine headaches (previously diagnosed as tension headaches)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- October 30, 2024
- Citation
- A24069893
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.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD with major depressive disorder was granted a rating of 70 percent, and he was also granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability.
- Granted
The Board granted an earlier effective date of August 9, 2023, for the award of service connection for PTSD with major depressive disorder.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with major depressive disorder and obstructive sleep apnea, but denied service connection for positive tuberculosis (TB) skin test, fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a right knee disorder, including degenerative arthritis, a left knee disorder, including degenerative arthritis, and bilateral hearing loss. The Board also remanded entitlement to service connection for hypertension, rectal cancer, and a total disability rating based on individual employability.
- Dismissed
The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for the awards of higher ratings and service connection were dismissed as they constituted impermissible, free-standing, earlier effective claims.
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