My brother went thru the same thing twenty years ago. A VA appeals court judge ruled in his favor, but the state VA org ignored the ruling. The appeals court never responded to calls requesting enforcement of the decision.
Finally, he got a psychologist AND a U.S. senator on board, and only then did the VA grant him 100% disability. In the meantime, two cousins who were Vietnam veterans committed suicide when they started having flashbacks.
One was even a nurse, but he had been USAF security police, doing patrols outside the perimeter at Cam Ranh Bay. All he ever said, even to his wife, was that yes, he had been involved in close combat.
This sort of story is not pleasant, but the fact it exists is the proper reply to people that think VA disability is all fraud.
A guy raised his right hand and took the oath and then did annual firearms training starting age 18 and onwards. His ears have had ringing in them for decades. For the rest of his life.
The VA calls this 10% disabled. Worth about $180/month.
Then one day a coworker sees him walking out to his car. And hears that “Jim is on VA disability”. This generates rage. “I just saw him walking to his car. He’s not disabled!! What total fraud! I’m reporting him!”