BVA decisions by condition
PTSD: BVA grant rates and what wins
From 2017 to 2026, the Board of Veterans' Appeals decided a PTSD issue in 80,784 decisions. It granted the PTSD issue in 29.5% of them, above the 19.4% grant rate for all conditions, denied it in 27.8%, and remanded it in 39.0%. Counting only decisions on the merits (granted or denied), 51.6% were granted.
Decisions
80,784
2017–2026
Granted
29.5%
All conditions: 19.4%
Granted on the merits
51.6%
Granted ÷ (granted + denied)
Remanded
39.0%
Denied: 27.8%
PTSD outcomes by year
| Year | Issues decided | Granted | Denied | Remanded | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 5,950 | 16.5% | 28.5% | 35.9% | 19.2% |
| 2018 | 10,542 | 23.1% | 26.4% | 42.3% | 8.2% |
| 2019 | 11,203 | 24.9% | 27.6% | 43.6% | 3.9% |
| 2020 | 9,744 | 27.4% | 28.3% | 40.5% | 3.8% |
| 2021 | 8,543 | 30.7% | 27.2% | 37.7% | 4.4% |
| 2022 | 8,442 | 30.7% | 23.1% | 41.8% | 4.3% |
| 2023 | 9,112 | 31.1% | 24.5% | 40.1% | 4.3% |
| 2024 | 8,898 | 35.1% | 27.9% | 33.3% | 3.8% |
| 2025 | 8,091 | 34.6% | 33.8% | 28.3% | 3.3% |
| 2026 | 2,986 | 42.5% | 29.9% | 24.4% | 3.2% |
Each row counts issues (each condition the Board decided), so the shares add up to 100%. Other: dismissed, withdrawn or no clear outcome. Years with fewer than 50 issues are left out.
Evidence in granted and denied PTSD decisions
For each kind of supporting evidence: how often the Board granted the PTSD issue on the merits when the decision mentioned it, compared with decisions that did not. These are associations, not causes, and evidence is recorded per decision, not per issue.
| In the record | Decisions | Granted when present | When absent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Positive nexus opinion | 14,587 | 75.8% | 44.1% | +31.7 pts |
| Favorable VA exam | 14,330 | 72.9% | 44.3% | +28.6 pts |
| Buddy statement | 4,153 | 71.2% | 50.4% | +20.8 pts |
| Claimed as secondary | 2,601 | 69.1% | 51.3% | +17.9 pts |
| Treating physician opinion | 8,662 | 65.9% | 49.2% | +16.7 pts |
| Combat service | 14,662 | 63.0% | 48.5% | +14.5 pts |
| Private medical opinion | 26,969 | 59.6% | 46.4% | +13.2 pts |
| Lay statement | 68,947 | 51.7% | 50.4% | +1.3 pts |
- The Board applied the benefit-of-the-doubt rule (38 CFR 3.102) in 73.0% of the decisions that granted PTSD.
- The Board found the veteran's statements credible in 46.3% of grants and 14.3% of denials.
Negative evidence in the record
An unfavorable exam or a negative nexus opinion often sits in the same record as favorable evidence, and the Board weighs them against each other. So these rows show how often PTSD was still granted when the record contained the negative item, not that the item helped.
| In the record | Decisions | Granted when present | When absent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Negative nexus opinion | 27,123 | 47.1% | 53.9% | −6.8 pts |
| Unfavorable VA exam | 56,791 | 48.4% | 65.6% | −17.2 pts |
Conditions claimed secondary to PTSD
Other conditions veterans claimed as caused or aggravated by PTSD, with how often the Board granted them.
- Sleep apnea secondary to PTSD11,479 decisions · 31.7% granted
- Hypertension secondary to PTSD3,194 decisions · 16.5% granted
- Migraine secondary to PTSD1,732 decisions · 37.1% granted
- Erectile dysfunction secondary to PTSD1,645 decisions · 30.3% granted
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) secondary to PTSD1,237 decisions · 25.3% granted
- Diabetes mellitus secondary to PTSD551 decisions · 20.3% granted
- Irritable colon syndrome (spastic colitis mucous colitis) secondary to PTSD380 decisions · 24.2% granted
- Major depressive disorder secondary to PTSD305 decisions · 62.0% granted
Why the Board granted or denied PTSD
Most common reasons in grants
- Current diagnosis established1,226
- Symptoms approximated 70% rating criteria356
- Occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas337
- Symptoms met criteria for 70% rating218
- Symptoms approximated 70% criteria207
- Symptoms approximated criteria for 70% rating206
- Holistic analysis of symptoms considered200
- Symptoms approximated total occupational and social impairment181
Most common reasons in denials
- Preponderance of the evidence against the claim2,008
- No current diagnosis1,675
- Service records negative or silent605
- Symptoms did not meet criteria for 100% rating400
- VA examiner: less likely than not related to service348
- Current diagnosis established337
- Symptoms did not meet criteria for 70% rating315
- No gross impairment in thought processes or communication261
Numbers are decisions that gave the reason. Reasons are short phrases extracted by AI from each decision; common wordings of the same reason are grouped. Benefit of the doubt is reported above.
Recent PTSD decisions
Granted
Veteran's service records confirm Vietnam service and meritorious award related to hostile operations.; Veteran's reports of stressful events deemed consistent with service and credible.; RO conceded a stressor based on Vietnam service.; Private psychiatric evaluation diagnosed PTSD under DSM-5 criteria and linked it to in-service trauma.; Board resolved reasonable doubt in Veteran's favor to grant PTSD.
Reduction improper as AOJ failed to demonstrate actual improvement in ability to function; Competent and credible evidence weighed against finding material improvement; Restoration of prior rating warranted due to VA's failure to meet burden of proof
AOJ favorable finding of conceded stressor; Prior PTSD diagnoses in VA treatment records; Private psychological evaluation opined nexus to military stressors; Veteran's statements corroborated combat events; Evidence in equipoise regarding onset during service; Benefit of the doubt applied
Denied
Symptoms prior to June 3, 2014, did not more closely approximate criteria for a rating higher than 50 percent.; Symptoms from June 3, 2014, to January 6, 2017, warranted a 70 percent rating, but not higher.; Symptoms from April 13, 2018, to June 30, 2022, warranted a 70 percent rating, but not higher.; Symptoms since November 14, 2022, warranted a 70 percent rating, but not higher.
Symptoms did not meet criteria for 50% rating; Veteran generally functioned satisfactorily; Medication and therapy improved symptoms
Symptoms more closely approximate occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.; Evidence persuasively against total occupational and social impairment.; Criteria for 100 percent rating are overwhelmingly absent.
Rules that apply to PTSD claims
- 38 CFR 4.130 · DC 9411
Schedule of ratings: mental disorders
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.304(f)
Service connection for PTSD
Read it in VA Law Explorer - M21-1 V.iii.13
Mental disorders: scope of the claim, change of diagnosis, reductions
Read it in VA Law Explorer - M21-1 IV.i.3.B.1.d
Reviewing a mental health examination report
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.303
Principles of service connection
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.310
Secondary service connection and aggravation
Read it in VA Law Explorer - 38 CFR 3.102
Reasonable doubt (benefit of the doubt)
Read it in VA Law Explorer
Research your PTSD case
Narrow by year, judge, evidence or secondary condition, read the decisions, and export a research memo.
How these numbers are calculated
- Rates count decisions in which the Board decided a PTSD issue, by the outcome of that issue. Other issues in the same decision can have different outcomes.
- “Granted on the merits” leaves out remands and dismissals. “All conditions” is the grant share across every condition issue in the data.
- The data comes from CaseScribe's AI extraction of public BVA decisions (2017–2026) and can contain errors. It is updated automatically as new decisions are added.