The Board granted an effective date of October 31, 2021, for the award of a 70 percent disability rating for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with alcohol use disorder, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and post-concussion syndrome. The claim was denied for earlier effective dates for service connection for fatty liver disease and TDIU.

The deciding factor: The Board found a factually ascertainable increase in the severity of the Veteran's psychiatric disorder from October 31, 2021, but no earlier date supports an earlier effective date for the award of a 70 percent disability rating.

Claimed conditions

PTSD with alcohol use disorder, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and post-concussion syndrome, fatty liver disease associated with service-connected psychiatric disorder, obstructive sleep apnea

How they argued it

Direct service connection

Exposure basis

None

Rating assigned

70%

Decision date

December 4, 2025

Citation

A25104223

Want to see how appeals like this one tend to go? Appeals like mine