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.
From Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions: appeals, not VA's first decisions. Issue-level outcomes.
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%
At a glance
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 |
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.
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
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.
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.
How the Board rates PTSD
The Board decided 46,604 PTSD rating issues from 2017 to 2026: it granted a higher rating in 31%, denied one in 33% and sent 30% back for a new exam or more records.
By diagnostic code
The codes the Board rated PTSD under, most used first. “Granted on the merits” leaves out remands. The last column is the percent the Board assigned most often when it granted a higher rating.
| Code | Issues | Granted on the merits | Remanded | Most common rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9411Posttraumatic stress disorder | 6,206 | 47.3% | 1.7% | 70% (63% of grants) |
| 9434 | 94 | 57.6% | 1.1% | 70% (69% of grants) |
| 7319 | 61 | 42.1% | 31.1% | 70% (89% of grants) |
| 8045 | 50 | 50.0% | 32.0% | 70% (47% of grants) |
| 9435 | 46 | 60.5% | 8.7% | 70% (64% of grants) |
| 9400 | 45 | 60.0% | 0.0% | 70% (67% of grants) |
| 9413 | 41 | 64.1% | 2.4% | 70% (60% of grants) |
39,604 issues named no diagnostic code, most of them remands.
Ratings the Board assigned
Share of each percent among the 10,465 grants that stated one.
- 10%0.1%
- 30%1.5%
- 40%0.0%
- 50%13.9%
- 70%61.4%
- 100%23.0%
Why the Board granted a higher rating
- benefit of the doubt / evidence in equipoise4,455
- criteria for a higher rating not met1,742
- criteria for the rating met or more nearly approximated1,622
- symptoms approximated 70 percent rating criteria395
- occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas328
- symptoms approximated criteria for 70 percent rating242
Why the Board denied one
- criteria for a higher rating not met7,063
- benefit of the doubt / evidence in equipoise367
- criteria for the rating met or more nearly approximated278
- no gross impairment in thought processes or communication259
- preponderance of evidence against higher rating202
- no current diagnosis of ptsd151
Evidence in rating grants and denials
How often the Board granted a higher PTSD rating on the merits when the decision mentioned each kind of evidence, against decisions that did not. Associations, not causes.
| In the record | Decisions | Granted when present | When absent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Favorable VA exam | 7,610 | 65.1% | 43.0% | +22.1 pts |
| Treating physician opinion | 5,117 | 57.9% | 46.2% | +11.8 pts |
| Private medical opinion | 14,799 | 53.7% | 44.4% | +9.3 pts |
| Lay statement | 37,796 | 48.3% | 43.1% | +5.2 pts |
| In the record | Decisions | Granted when present | When absent | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unfavorable VA exam | 33,489 | 46.3% | 57.4% | −11.0 pts |
The Board applied the benefit of the doubt (38 CFR 3.102) in 69.8% of the decisions that granted a higher rating.
Recent rating decisions
Higher rating granted
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
Credible and corroborated MST report; MST occurred in line of duty during inactive duty for training; Etiologically related to PTSD and depression
Private DBQ documented significant impairment; Symptoms approximated 70% rating criteria; Did not meet 100% rating criteria
Denied
Symptoms did not meet criteria for 50% rating; Veteran generally functioned satisfactorily; Medication and therapy improved symptoms
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 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.
How VA rates PTSD
Once service connection is granted, VA assigns a disability rating from the rating schedule, 38 CFR 4.130. Posttraumatic stress disorder (diagnostic code 9411) is rated under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders, the same scale as every other mental disorder code. The rating is the same whether the condition is service connected directly or as secondary to another disability.
| Rating | Criteria |
|---|---|
| 100% | Total occupational and social impairment, due to such symptoms as: gross impairment in thought processes or communication; persistent delusions or hallucinations; grossly inappropriate behavior; persistent danger of hurting self or others; intermittent inability to perform activities of daily living (including maintenance of minimal personal hygiene); disorientation to time or place; memory loss for names of close relatives, own occupation, or own name. |
| 70% | Occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood, due to such symptoms as: suicidal ideation; obsessional rituals which interfere with routine activities; speech intermittently illogical, obscure, or irrelevant; near-continuous panic or depression affecting the ability to function independently, appropriately and effectively; impaired impulse control (such as unprovoked irritability with periods of violence); spatial disorientation; neglect of personal appearance and hygiene; difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances (including work or a worklike setting); inability to establish and maintain effective relationships. |
| 50% | Occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity due to such symptoms as: flattened affect; circumstantial, circumlocutory, or stereotyped speech; panic attacks more than once a week; difficulty in understanding complex commands; impairment of short- and long-term memory (e.g., retention of only highly learned material, forgetting to complete tasks); impaired judgment; impaired abstract thinking; disturbances of motivation and mood; difficulty in establishing and maintaining effective work and social relationships. |
| 30% | Occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks (although generally functioning satisfactorily, with routine behavior, self-care, and conversation normal), due to such symptoms as: depressed mood, anxiety, suspiciousness, panic attacks (weekly or less often), chronic sleep impairment, mild memory loss (such as forgetting names, directions, recent events). |
| 10% | Occupational and social impairment due to mild or transient symptoms which decrease work efficiency and ability to perform occupational tasks only during periods of significant stress, or symptoms controlled by continuous medication. |
| 0% | A mental condition has been formally diagnosed, but symptoms are not severe enough either to interfere with occupational and social functioning or to require continuous medication. |
Common conditions rated under the same formula
- Schizophrenia DC 9201
- Generalized anxiety disorder DC 9400
- Unspecified anxiety disorder DC 9413
- Bipolar disorder DC 9432
- Major depressive disorder DC 9434
- Unspecified depressive disorder DC 9435
- Chronic adjustment disorder DC 9440
All 23 other codes under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders
Delusional disorder (9208), Other specified and unspecified schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders (9210), Schizoaffective disorder (9211), Delirium (9300), Major or mild neurocognitive disorder due to HIV or other infections (9301), Major or mild neurocognitive disorder due to traumatic brain injury (9304), Major or mild vascular neurocognitive disorder (9305), Unspecified neurocognitive disorder (9310), Major or mild neurocognitive disorder due to Alzheimer's disease (9312), Major or mild neurocognitive disorder due to another medical condition or substance/medication-induced major or mild neurocognitive disorder (9326), Specific phobia; social anxiety disorder (social phobia) (9403), Obsessive compulsive disorder (9404), Other specified anxiety disorder (9410), Panic disorder and/or agoraphobia (9412), Dissociative amnesia; dissociative identity disorder (9416), Depersonalization/Derealization disorder (9417), Somatic symptom disorder (9421), Other specified somatic symptom and related disorder (9422), Unspecified somatic symptom and related disorder (9423), Conversion disorder (functional neurological symptom disorder) (9424), Illness anxiety disorder (9425), Cyclothymic disorder (9431), Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) (9433).
Text of 38 CFR 4.130 as of Feb 27, 2026. Confirm the current text at the source before relying on it.
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.
Where this data comes from
- Claim
- Regional office decides
- Veteran appeals
- Board decides
- Granted · Denied · Remanded: back to the regional office
Board of Veterans' Appeals decisions show how VA's highest review body applies 38 CFR and weighs evidence on contested claims.
Each one is an appeal: a regional office decided the claim first, and the veteran appealed. So these rates describe the Board, not a veteran's odds at the regional office, where most claims are decided and whose decisions are not public.
More on what Board decisions can and cannot tell you