PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2024

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU), to include on an extraschedular basis, finding that his service-connected PTSD did not preclude him from securing and maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for PTSD with polysubstance abuse and TDIU was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not show occupational and social impairment warranting a higher disability rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence to verify the Veteran's reported in-service PTSD stressors from 1991 and 1998. The Veteran is requested to provide additional information or documentation for these years.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, but no higher, due to occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's posttraumatic stress disorder and anxiety disorder are directly related to service, resolving all reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD effective June 2, 2022. The Veteran's PTSD is found to be directly related to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and depression, based on the Veteran's in-service stressor of witnessing a fellow soldier who had died by suicide.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a TDIU was denied as the September 2009 rating decision implicitly denied the matter of unemployability due to his service-connected PTSD and prostate cancer. The appeal is based on the implicit denial in the prior decision.

The Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD with TBI and vertigo, headaches, lumbosacral strain, sciatica (both sides), shoulder rotator cuff tendonitis (both sides), tinnitus, and bilateral varicocele and hydrocele are granted effective April 26, 2022.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for migraine headaches and PTSD, bipolar II disorder, and persistent depressive disorder with traumatic brain injury have been dismissed due to the Veteran's withdrawal of his appeal.

The appeal for service connection for PTSD secondary to MST is dismissed. The claims of service connection for erectile dysfunction, IBS, and sleep apnea are remanded.

The Veteran's sleep apnea, lumbar spine disability, and PTSD have been granted service connection on a direct basis.,Service connection for ED is remanded as secondary to PTSD. Service connection for headaches is also remanded as secondary to PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, Allergic Rhinitis, and Migraines were denied as the evidence did not show symptoms severe enough to meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD has been dismissed due to their death. The Board does not have jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of this claim.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted at a 70% rating effective October 25, 2018.

The Board has determined that there was a pre-decisional duty to assist error and the claim of service connection for sleep apnea is remanded. The Veteran's sleep apnea may be secondary to his service-connected hypertension, major depressive disorder, anxiety, and PTSD.

The Board has granted a rating of 100 percent for PTSD based on substitution, finding that the Veteran's symptoms more nearly approximated total occupational and social impairment during the entire relevant period.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of PTSD was denied, and the earlier effective date for right lower extremity radiculopathy was also denied.

The Board has denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, PTSD, left lower extremity disability, and right lower extremity disability as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service injury that would support these claims.

The Board has remanded the claim of service connection for OSA, which is secondary to PTSD. The Veteran's medical records show he was diagnosed with OSA in 2020 and treated for it since then. However, a VA examiner found no signs or symptoms attributable to sleep apnea and no functional impairment. The Board finds this opinion inadequate due to legal errors and insufficient consideration of the Veteran's lay statements and prior examination findings.