The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD, finding that it was not factually ascertainable that the Veteran's disability had increased to 70 percent prior to October 10, 2021.

The deciding factor: The evidence did not show an increase in severity until the November 2021 VA examination, which demonstrated symptoms of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking and/or mood.

Claimed conditions

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

None in this decision

Decision date

February 26, 2025

Citation

A25017204

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