The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for the Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder with alcohol use disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a higher rating.
The deciding factor: The severity, frequency, and duration of the symptoms of the Veteran's PTSD do not more nearly approximate occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic stress disorder with alcohol use disorder (PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- 50%
- Decision date
- April 17, 2025
- Citation
- A25035708
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.
- Partly granted
The Board granted service connection for a left knee disability and a 70 percent rating, but no higher, prior to June 11, 2018 for PTSD. The TDIU claim was denied.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board remands the claims for an initial rating higher than 30 percent, a rating higher than 70 percent from July 17, 2024, and TDIU based on PTSD alone to ensure that VA has met its duty to assist by obtaining additional medical evidence.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 100 percent rating as of February 24, 2023, due to memory loss symptoms.
- Granted
The Board granted an evaluation of 70 percent for PTSD, finding the Veteran's symptoms more closely approximate the criteria for this rating.
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This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your own situation, talk to a VA-accredited representative — many help for free.