PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2023

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected PTSD has been withdrawn and is dismissed.

The Veteran is granted an initial disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD prior to January 9, 2015. The rating reflects significant occupational and social impairment due to symptoms such as difficulty in adapting to stressful circumstances including work or a work like setting, an inability to establish and maintain effective relationships, and other symptoms consistent with the criteria for a 70 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the claim for service connection for anxiety disorder and depressive disorder is granted. The claims for PTSD and traumatic brain injury with headache disorder are remanded due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and adjustment disorder with anxiety and depression. The decision finds that his current psychiatric disorders are at least as likely as not related to his military service.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, related to military sexual trauma. The case is being remanded due to the need for additional development regarding the in-service stressor and a VA examination.

The Veteran's initial ratings for his left palm scar and PTSD were denied. The Board found that a compensable rating was not warranted prior to June 22, 2018, and a rating in excess of 10 percent thereafter is also not warranted. Service connection for the left wrist/arm disorder and TDIU are remanded.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's service connection claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder due to new and material evidence, but has remanded the case for further development regarding the cause of his condition.

The Veteran has been unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation as a result of his service-connected PTSD since August 31, 2016. The Board finds that the Veteran's PTSD prevents him from securing and following such employment.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete records and the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, anxiety disability secondary to PTSD, and psychosis secondary to PTSD were denied as there was insufficient evidence supporting a diagnosis of PTSD or a link between the Veteran's symptoms and reported in-service stressors.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD from January 12, 2012, and thereafter was denied. The Board also found that TDIU had been raised by the record but denied it for the period prior to September 20, 2018.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for accrued benefits for an earlier effective date due to withdrawal by the appellant. The case is remanded for further development and opinion regarding service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including obtaining a VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of his right ear status-post excision cutaneous lesion and adjudicating his claim for an increased rating for PTSD with MDD. The matter of entitlement to additional SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) is also inextricably intertwined.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for acquired psychiatric disability (claimed as PTSD) and a headache disability due to the need for additional medical opinions regarding the nature, etiology, and preexistence of any diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to August 9, 2011, for the grant of service connection for PTSD was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not receive proper notice of the August 2007 denial and thus the one-year appeal period did not toll. Therefore, as the August 2007 decision became final, an effective date prior to August 9, 2011, could not be granted. The Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to service-connected PTSD was granted for the period September 1, 2011, until December 9, 2012.

The Veteran's PTSD with sleep impairment prior to September 28, 2015 is rated at a 70 percent disability level.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for a VA opinion to determine if his OSA is caused or aggravated by his service-connected psychiatric disorder and medications, as well as whether his obesity is a substantial factor in causing or aggravating his OSA.

The Board has denied service connection for tinnitus and remanded the cases of an acquired psychiatric disorder, lung cancer, and the cause of death. The issues related to these claims are now pending again with the Board.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a rating of 70 percent prior to December 19, 2021.,A rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is denied from December 19, 2021 onwards.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, warranting a 70 percent rating. The Veteran was denied TDIU prior to January 4, 2018.