PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective May 4, 2012. The Board has granted a disability rating of 100 percent for the Veteran's PTSD beginning September 4, 2018.,The Veteran is also entitled to SMC pursuant to 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s), effective September 4, 2018.

The Board has determined that more additional evidentiary development is necessary prior to the adjudication of the current issue on appeal, which involves service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder. The Veteran's claim will be remanded for further development.

The Board previously denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD. The case is being remanded due to the need for additional development, specifically obtaining VA treatment records and Vet Center records, as well as a medical opinion regarding the onset of any current psychiatric disorders.

The appeal for service connection for PTSD is dismissed due to procedural errors in the review process.

The Veteran was granted TDIU benefits as of October 16, 2012. He also received SMC based on aid and attendance as of the same date.,An effective date of May 28, 2011, for TDIU benefits was granted.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, valvular heart disease, peripheral neuropathy of the left lower extremity, fungal infection of the left toe, and bilateral hearing loss, have prevented him from securing or following substantially gainful employment since May 11, 2021. The Board has granted a TDIU effective as of that date.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of July 23, 1981 for the grant of service connection for PTSD due to new and relevant evidence from declassified military records.

The Veteran's initial intent to file claims for service connection for TBI with PTSD, migraines, right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy, and tinnitus was received by VA on March 8, 2019. The effective dates for these awards are denied as they were not earlier than March 8, 2019.,The Veteran's intent to file a claim for SMC based on housebound status prior to February 1, 2017 was denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since March 4, 2016. The claim for a higher rating and TDIU are denied.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of October 19, 2016 for a 100 percent rating for PTSD due to military sexual trauma (MST). The evidence shows the Veteran exhibited symptoms consistent with a 100 percent rating since October 19, 2016.

The Veteran's initial request for a higher rating for PTSD prior to May 8, 2019 was denied. For the period after May 8, 2019, his PTSD is rated at 50 percent.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate medical opinions and further examination. The issues include OSA, RA, anosmia (loss of sense of smell), GERD, interstitial lung disease, and a large intestine disability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to a violation of his due process rights regarding notification of his right to an administrative hearing. The case will be returned to the RO for compliance with the directives in the Joint Motion for Remand (JMR).

The Veteran's TDIU is granted effective October 25, 2016, as he was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of PTSD was dismissed. The claims for service connection of a right hip disability, left hip disability, and skin disorder were readjudicated as new and relevant evidence has been received.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, and major depressive disorder, has been dismissed due to her withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's service connection for tinnitus and earlier effective date of July 3, 2019, for the assignment of a 70 percent rating for PTSD are both granted.

The Veteran's PTSD has resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, but not total occupational and social impairment. The Board granted a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD effective July 19, 2021.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for the grant of total disability evaluation based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU). The TDIU claim was part and parcel of his increased evaluation claim for mental health disabilities, which he filed in October 2020. As a result, the effective date remains September 8, 2020.

The Board has denied the veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there is no evidence to support a link between her current conditions and any in-service events or exposures. The decision also notes that she did not have active military service.