The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection was denied. The Veteran is not entitled to a disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, a compensable evaluation for posttraumatic headaches, or service connection for degenerative disc disease (DDD), herniated disc, stiff lower back, pinched nerve.
The deciding factor: The evidence did not show that the Veteran's symptoms were severe enough to warrant a higher rating under any diagnostic code. The VA examiner found that the Veteran's PTSD manifested as occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks, which corresponds to a 70 percent disability rating.
- Claimed conditions
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury
- How they argued it
- Direct service connection
- Exposure basis
- None
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- March 5, 2026
- Citation
- A26020143
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation A26020143.
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 claim for service connection for PTSD is granted as the evidence shows a current diagnosis of PTSD, an in-service stressor, and a medical link between the two.
- Denied
The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 50% since March 23, 2004. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted prior to February 15, 2005 due to the severity of his symptoms and their impact on his social and occupational functioning.
- Denied
The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and any acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence to support a link between his current mental health conditions and his military service.
- Granted
The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 70% disability rating. The Veteran also met the criteria for a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.
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