The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of a 70 percent rating for PTSD, as it was not factually ascertainable that the increase in severity occurred within one year prior to September 2, 2020.
The deciding factor: An increase in the Veteran's symptoms of PTSD was not factually ascertainable during the one-year period preceding the date of receipt of the claim for increased compensation.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder with Alcohol Use Disorder (PTSD)
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- May 12, 2025
- Citation
- A25042506
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 is rated at 70 percent, and he has been granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected PTSD, as well as special monthly compensation (SMC) at the housebound rate.
- Denied
The Board denied an increased disability rating in excess of 70 percent for the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and remanded the issue of entitlement to a total disability rating due to individual unemployability (TDIU).
- Partly granted
The Board granted a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD, effective September 30, 2020. The appeal for an increased rating for the left shoulder midclavicular fracture was denied.
- Granted
The Board granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, effective from the date of the February 2025 rating decision.
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