BVA decisions by condition
PTSD due to combat: BVA grant rates and what wins
From 2018 to 2026, the Board of Veterans' Appeals decided a PTSD due to combat issue in 5,395 decisions. It granted the PTSD due to combat issue in 32.7% of them, above the 19.9% grant rate for all conditions, denied it in 55.9%, and remanded it in 13.2%. Counting only decisions on the merits (granted or denied), 36.9% were granted.
Decisions
5,395
2018–2026
Granted
32.7%
All conditions: 19.9%
Granted on the merits
36.9%
Granted ÷ (granted + denied)
Remanded
13.2%
Denied: 55.9%
PTSD due to combat outcomes by year
| Year | Decisions | Granted | Denied | Remanded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 424 | 25.9% | 52.1% | 22.6% |
| 2020 | 709 | 26.4% | 58.0% | 18.6% |
| 2021 | 624 | 30.6% | 55.8% | 14.7% |
| 2022 | 578 | 33.7% | 52.6% | 15.2% |
| 2023 | 701 | 35.0% | 52.4% | 14.6% |
| 2024 | 932 | 35.0% | 56.3% | 10.8% |
| 2025 | 1,040 | 34.1% | 60.9% | 6.7% |
| 2026 | 386 | 39.4% | 53.4% | 7.5% |
Evidence in granted and denied PTSD due to combat decisions
For each kind of supporting evidence: how often the Board granted the PTSD due to combat 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Favorable VA exam | 851 | 59.3% | 32.1% | +27.2 pts |
| Positive nexus opinion | 589 | 58.0% | 34.3% | +23.7 pts |
| Buddy statement | 175 | 51.5% | 36.5% | +15.0 pts |
| Claimed as secondary | 104 | 51.6% | 36.7% | +14.9 pts |
| Treating physician opinion | 660 | 45.6% | 35.6% | +10.1 pts |
| Private medical opinion | 1,744 | 41.5% | 34.6% | +7.0 pts |
| Combat service | 745 | 37.0% | 36.9% | +0.1 pts |
| Lay statement | 4,966 | 36.2% | 47.6% | −11.4 pts |
- The Board applied the benefit-of-the-doubt rule (38 CFR 3.102) in 64.8% of the decisions that granted PTSD due to combat.
- The Board found the veteran's statements credible in 29.6% of grants and 9.6% 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 due to combat 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 | 1,463 | 31.0% | 38.9% | −7.9 pts |
| Unfavorable VA exam | 4,788 | 34.9% | 60.9% | −26.0 pts |
Why the Board granted or denied PTSD due to combat
Most common reasons in grants
- Symptoms approximated 70% rating criteria40
- Holistic analysis of symptoms considered40
- Occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas39
- Symptoms approximated total occupational and social impairment29
- Symptoms approximated 70% criteria26
- Symptoms approximated criteria for 70% rating24
- Suicidal ideation present22
- Current diagnosis established21
Most common reasons in denials
- Preponderance of the evidence against the claim231
- Symptoms did not meet criteria for 100% rating85
- Symptoms did not meet criteria for 70% rating66
- Symptoms more closely approximated 70% rating criteria58
- Symptoms do not meet criteria for 100% rating50
- Symptoms did not meet criteria for total occupational and social impairment46
- No gross impairment in thought processes or communication45
- No persistent delusions or hallucinations35
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 due to combat decisions
Granted
Symptoms approximated 70% criteria; Suicidal ideation noted but not at 100% level; Adequate VA examinations and lay statements considered
Symptoms best match criteria for 100 percent evaluation.; Total occupational and social impairment demonstrated.; Factually ascertainable worsening by August 8, 2018.
Symptoms consistent with 70% rating criteria; Inability to establish/maintain effective relationships; Irritability, angry outbursts, passive suicidal ideation; Difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances; Evidence does not support 100% rating
Denied
June 2019 VA exam found symptoms consistent with 50% rating; Veteran's statements did not support 70% rating for the earlier period; No current suicidal ideation, violence, or near-constant panic attacks
Symptoms did not meet criteria for 100% rating.; Symptoms more closely approximated 70% rating criteria.; Deficiencies in most areas of functioning.
Veteran's symptoms did not meet criteria for rating above 30%; Veteran maintained employment and relationships; No reduced reliability or productivity found
Rules that apply to PTSD due to combat claims
- 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 due to combat 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 due to combat 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 (2018–2026) and can contain errors. It is updated automatically as new decisions are added.