PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is granted as service connected due to military sexual trauma. The claims for back pain, hemorrhoids, bilateral wrist disorders, bilateral leg disorders, and sleep apnea are remanded.

The Board has granted an effective date of June 19, 2022 for SMC and SMC (p) based on the Veteran's service-connected disabilities. The Veteran is also entitled to a higher rate of SMC benefits at the P-2 level due to additional independent service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his service, and therefore grants the claim for service connection.

The Board has determined that the effective dates for the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and TBI should be corrected to reflect earlier periods, but further review is needed to determine the appropriate rating and whether a TDIU claim should proceed under extraschedular criteria.

The Board found that the Veteran did not meet eligibility criteria for earlier effective date prior to July 24, 2023, for PCAFC benefits due to lack of need for personal care services based on inability to perform ADLs or need for supervision/protective measures.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, and a separate psychiatric disability (presumed to be an eating disorder) have all been denied. The Veteran's PTSD has also not met the criteria for an increased rating.,Specifically, the Board found that there is no current evidence of hearing loss in either ear meeting VA criteria, and thus service connection cannot be granted. For her right ear hearing loss, while a current disability was established, it was determined to be less likely than not related to service. The Veteran's eating disorder was also deemed unrelated to service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depressive disorder due to chronic pain with depressive features and PTSD was granted, effective February 15, 2008. An initial rating of 70 percent for the condition prior to April 7, 2022, is also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities (PTSD, low back disability, and OSA) prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted the TDIU claim.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted at a 70 percent rating, and service connection for IBS is granted. The claim of a compensable rating for chronic hemorrhoids is remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between his disabilities and active service. The Veteran is required to undergo VA examinations to determine if any of his claimed conditions are related to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent, and the Board has remanded for further evaluation due to occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks. The lumbar spine disability remains at 40 percent, RLE radiculopathy at 20 percent, LLE radiculopathy at 10 percent, and RLE femoral nerve radiculopathy at 10 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted an increased disability evaluation to 50 percent, effective December 24, 2020. The decision is based on the severity of symptoms including anxiety, depression, and chronic sleep impairment.

The Veteran's claim for restoration of a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD is granted due to the absence of sustained improvement in his symptoms, which were consistent with a 50 percent rating at the time of the reduction.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for right and left ankle pain, as well as his acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD, depression, stimulant use, and cannabis use disorder), due to a failure to consider new evidence in the original decision.

Your claim for an increased evaluation of PTSD has been fully granted with a 100% rating effective April 1, 2020. The appeal is dismissed as the benefit sought has already been granted.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased evaluation for PTSD was denied by the Board, with a final rating of 30 percent effective February 5, 2013. The decision found that during the entire period of appeal, the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability symptoms manifested as occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform occupational tasks.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for a temporary total disability rating based on hospital treatment due to his participation in a Mental Health Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (MH RRTP). The appeal is remanded for consideration of the Veteran's TDIU claim.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU and DEA was granted, with the earliest effective dates being May 18, 2018.,The Veteran is now eligible to receive DEA benefits from May 18, 2018.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in verifying the Veteran's service with the Marine Corps Reserve and requesting associated medical records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder and schizoaffective disorder have been granted. The claim for shortness of breath (sarcoidosis) is remanded, as is the claim for degenerative arthritis and degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine.