PTSD at the Board: grant share rose from 2018 to 2025 as remands fell

The Board of Veterans' Appeals now grants PTSD claims more often than it did a few years ago. In 2018 and 2019 it granted 24.5% of its PTSD decisions; in 2024 and 2025 it granted 35.5%, a rise of 11.1 percentage points.

The finding comes from 80,784 Board decisions on PTSD from 2017 to 2026. Across all years, the Board granted 29.5%, denied 27.8% and remanded 39.0%.

Share of decisions each year. 2026 is a partial year.

Remands fell as grants rose

Much of the change in the grant share happened alongside a drop in remands. The Board remanded 43.7% of PTSD decisions in 2018 and 2019, and 31.6% in 2024 and 2025.

The year-by-year figures show a steady climb. Grants went from 16.6% in 2017 to 31.9% in 2021 and 35.8% in 2024. Remands held near the low forties through 2023, at 41.3%, before falling to 28.9% in 2025. In 2026 so far, the Board has granted 43.4% and remanded 24.6%.

When remands are left out, the change is smaller. The Board granted 47.3% of PTSD claims it decided on the merits in 2018 and 2019, and 53.3% in 2024 and 2025. Over all years, the merits grant rate was 51.6%. The data does not show why remands declined.

The evidence in granted records

Certain kinds of evidence appear more often in records the Board granted. With a positive nexus opinion, the merits grant rate was 75.8%; without one, 44.1%. With a favorable VA exam it was 72.9%, against 44.3% without.

Statements from fellow service members stand out. Records with a buddy statement were granted on the merits in 71.2% of decisions, compared with 50.4% without. Lay statements in general showed almost no gap: 51.7% with, 50.4% without.

A treating physician opinion was associated with a rate of 65.9%, against 49.2%. A private medical opinion went with 59.6%, against 46.4%. Combat service went with 63.0%, against 48.5%. PTSD claimed as secondary under 38 CFR 3.310 was granted on the merits in 69.1% of decisions.

The unfavorable side runs the other way. With an unfavorable VA exam, the rate was 48.4%; with a negative nexus opinion, 47.1%.

In the recordNot in the record

Positive nexus opinion

75.8%

44.1%

Favorable VA exam

72.9%

44.3%

Buddy statement

71.2%

50.4%

Claimed as secondary

69.1%

51.3%

Merits decisions only (granted or denied). Associations, not causes.

These are associations, not causes. A record with a positive opinion or a corroborating witness may be stronger in other ways too.

What the decisions say

The most common reason in denials was that the "preponderance of the evidence against the claim," cited in 2,008 denials. Next came "no current diagnosis" (1,675) and "service records negative or silent" (605).

On the grant side, the leading reason was "current diagnosis established," in 1,226 grants. Others turned on rating level: symptoms that approximated the criteria for a higher rating (356) and "occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas" (337).

The Board applied the benefit of the doubt under 38 CFR 3.102 in 73.0% of PTSD grants.

Read the decisions

Recent examples, with the Board's reasons as summarized by AI:

• A26040453, granted in 2026: veteran's service records confirm Vietnam service and meritorious award related to hostile operations.
• A26040467, granted in 2026: reduction improper as AOJ failed to demonstrate actual improvement in ability to function.
• A26040477, granted in 2026: aOJ favorable finding of conceded stressor.
• 26005108, denied in 2026.
• A26040554, denied in 2026.
• A26040588, denied in 2026: evidence persuasively against total occupational and social impairment.

For representatives

• A current diagnosis is the top stated reason in grants and the second most common gap in denials. Confirm the record contains a diagnosis before the Board reviews it.
• Buddy statements were associated with a much higher merits grant rate than lay statements generally, especially where service records are silent on the stressor.
• The Board applied the benefit of the doubt in 73.0% of grants. Arguments framed around evidence in approximate balance under 38 CFR 3.102 match how most grants are written.