PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since September 2, 2013. The rating was increased to 70 percent from January 9, 2023.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for pes planus, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and right ingrown toenail with hallux valgus as new and material evidence was not received to reopen these claims. The claim for hypertension was remanded for further development.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability from June 20, 2011, to include on an extraschedular basis due to service-connected PTSD, migraines, and right shoulder disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection, as well as a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) and special monthly compensation (SMC), due to insufficient evidence of current disabilities related to service or functional impairment.

The Board has remanded the claims for Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) and Special Monthly Compensation (SMC). The TDIU claim is related to PTSD, which was previously rated at 50% prior to March 17, 2018, and 70% thereafter. The SMC claim is inextricably intertwined with the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 50 percent rating prior to June 8, 2021. From June 8, 2021, the Veteran's PTSD is denied any increased rating in excess of 70 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking or mood prior to January 7, 2022. The Board granted a 70 percent rating for this period.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted with an effective date of February 20, 2020.

The Veteran's PTSD with TBI was granted a 70% evaluation effective December 10, 2020.,An earlier effective date for the 70% rating is denied.

The Veteran's claim for an initial evaluation in excess of 30 percent for service-connected PTSD has been denied. The VA determined that the disability picture does not meet the criteria for a higher rating, as it only resulted in occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings for PTSD, migraine headaches, and TDIU was denied. The rating for PTSD remains at 70 percent, the highest available under current criteria. The rating for migraine headaches is also denied as they do not meet the criteria for a 50% rating.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for service connection due to the Veteran's character of discharge being a bar to VA benefits, and there was no new and material evidence received within one year of relevant decisions.

The Veteran's service-connected obstructive sleep apnea and histoplosmosis did not result in any compensable symptoms. The claim for PTSD was denied as the Veteran was not diagnosed with PTSD.,Service connection for prostate cancer is being remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's appeals for TDIU and a higher evaluation for their mental disorder have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death. The appeal will be dismissed, but individuals who may be eligible for substitution can request it within one year of the Veteran's death.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error in the previous VA medical opinion, which did not address whether the Veteran's sleep apnea was aggravated by his service-connected PTSD. The claim is now being sent back for an addendum opinion.

The Board denied an effective date prior to May 13, 2021 for the award of a 100 percent rating for PTSD and depressive disorder.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for schizoaffective disorder and service connection for PTSD are remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The TDIU claim is also remanded as it is inextricably intertwined with the other claims.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted an initial rating of 70 percent from August 25, 2010, to June 17, 2020, and a 100 percent schedular rating from June 17, 2020, to June 30, 2021.

The Board granted a separate 10 percent rating for peripheral vestibular disorder and denied an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus. The Board also remanded the issue of service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to insufficient evidence.