Entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 50 percent prior to September 20, 2024, for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is denied.

Board reasoning

The Board concluded that the Veteran’s PTSD symptomatology during the period October 2022 to September 2024 did not meet the criteria for a 70 percent rating and remained most consistent with a 50 percent rating. It weighed the frequency, severity, and duration of symptoms, including impaired judgment, disturbances of motivation and mood, panic-like experiences, and difficulty maintaining work and social relationships, and found that, although some 70 percent symptoms were present (such as impaired impulse control), the overall impairment did not reach the 70 percent threshold. The Board emphasized a holistic analysis under 38 C.F.R. § 4.126 and compared evidence across examinations and lay statements to determine occupational and social impairment.