PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent disabling, but the Board finds that his service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric condition is granted as service-connected.,There is no evidence of a current back condition, and the claim for this issue is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and substance abuse disorder, finding that there was no credible evidence of in-service stressors or a link between current symptoms and service.

The Board has decided to remand both issues of service connection for PTSD and dyshidrotic eczema due to a pre-decisional duty-to-assist error. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered with the inclusion of relevant evidence.

The Veteran's appeal is for an earlier effective date of the 70 percent rating awarded for PTSD. The Board finds that VA had a duty to assist in obtaining relevant evidence, including a February 2019 private medical evaluation from Gina G. Uribe ARNP, MN, FNP, which was not part of the record at the time of the October 2021 HLR decision.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for PTSD with major depressive disorder was dismissed due to the untimeliness of her Notice of Disagreement (NOD).

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for acquired psychiatric disabilities and tinnitus due to a lack of adequate medical opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's conditions and his military service. The AOJ will consider any new evidence submitted during the period after the April 2020 decision.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, other specified trauma and stressor related disorder, bipolar II disorder, and major depressive disorder. The decision is based on the Veteran's reported in-service personal assaults and continuous symptoms since service.

The Board has remanded the claim due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically failing to afford the Veteran an examination to determine the nature and etiology of her claimed psychiatric disorders. The Veteran is presumed to have experienced military sexual trauma (MST) during service but needs further evidence corroborating this stressor.

The Veteran's claims for a higher disability rating for PTSD and SMC based on housebound criteria are being remanded due to the inadequacy of the VA examination. The Board will schedule an appropriate examination to assess the severity of his PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100 percent rating for PTSD is denied as there was no pending claim filed after the May 2015 rating decision and prior to May 19, 2020. The effective date should be the date entitlement arose, which in this case is the date of the July 1, 2020, VA examination that noted total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied as the evidence did not support a finding that he was unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to service-connected disabilities, including PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal for PTSD was dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression, finding that the Veteran's mental health issues were not related to his military service due to willful misconduct.

The Board remands the matter to clarify the Veteran's employment history and whether his service-connected disabilities preclude him from obtaining or engaging in substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, finding that it is at least as likely as not caused by his service-connected PTSD and generalized anxiety disorder.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate VA examinations and failure to verify stressors. The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, depression, and anxiety is being reconsidered.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and depression, as there is no evidence of a current disability.

The Board has denied service connection for sleep apnea and chronic fatigue syndrome as secondary to PTSD. The claims for low back, bilateral knee, and bilateral shoulder disabilities are remanded.

Your appeal for a higher rating for PTSD and major depressive disorder has been dismissed because you requested to withdraw the appeal.