PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed as he requested withdrawal of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to verify the Veteran's claimed stressor, which is necessary for service connection of PTSD.

The Board has found errors in the AOJ's notice and requires that a pre-decisional hearing be provided to the Veteran before the AOJ on all reopened claims.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board finds that it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Board has granted service connection for a psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, and major depressive disorder. The decision is based on the Veteran's in-service stressors and her current symptoms aligning with these diagnoses.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered her unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and she was awarded an effective date of November 27, 2019 for TDIU and DEA eligibility.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent, the highest schedular rating available. The decision also granted a TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's cause of death is listed as atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The Appellant contends that the Veteran's service-connected PTSD is connected to his cause of death, but there is no VA examination or opinion linking the two.

The Veteran's eligibility for transfer of educational benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill to his dependent spouse was denied due to failure to meet his service commitment prior to his obligated projected end date.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD and a right hip disability, finding no current diagnosis of either condition during the appeal period. The Veteran's hypertension claim was also denied as there were no blood pressure readings meeting the criteria for a compensable rating.,Service connection was not granted for PTSD due to lack of a diagnosed condition, an in-service stressor, or a causal relationship between the claimed condition and service.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of October 9, 2019, for the award of a total disability rating based on individual employability (TDIU) is granted. The effective date corresponds to when the Veteran filed his increased rating claim for PTSD.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence regarding the relationship between the claimed conditions and military service. The Veteran will need to undergo VA examinations to determine if there is a link between his current diagnoses and his time in service.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD with major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder, assigning a 70 percent disability rating effective October 25, 2020. The Veteran's attorney is eligible to receive past-due benefits awarded in the May 2022 rating decision.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of January 22, 2021 for a 70 percent rating for PTSD has been granted. The Board found that the Veteran continuously pursued his service connection claim and the medical evidence supported a 70 percent rating since his original date of claim in January 2021.

The Veteran's VR&E benefits were discontinued, but the Board finds there are inconsistencies in the record and remands for a new evaluation to determine feasibility of employment services or educational assistance.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since the appeal period began, but his claim for a higher rating was denied as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a 100 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea, shortness of breath, and chest pain are remanded due to the need for a VA examination to address these issues.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disability, including depression and PTSD. The decision also notes a duty to assist error due to the failure to obtain records relevant to the Veteran's claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD with alcohol use disorder was granted, and the effective date is set at September 28, 2020.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) as these issues are inextricably linked with a previous decision regarding TDIU.