PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2024

The reduction of the PTSD rating from 70% to 50% was improper, and restoration of the 70% rating is granted.,The reduction of the TBI with Disequilibrium and Mild Imbalance rating from 40% to 10% was proper.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as there is no evidence of a current disability meeting VA standards.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, claimed as PTSD and diagnosed as insomnia disorder, is also denied due to lack of a diagnosis matching the criteria for PTSD or other mental health condition.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for tinnitus is denied as she is already receiving the maximum schedular rating.

The Veteran's claim for an extension of his delimiting date for educational assistance benefits under Chapter 33 (Post-9/11 GI Bill) is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Board must obtain a medical opinion regarding the impact of the Veteran's service-connected PTSD on his ability to initiate or complete an education program during the original 15-year eligibility period.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for a 70% rating for PTSD has been withdrawn by the accredited representative.

New and relevant evidence has been submitted to readjudicate the claim for service connection for Major Depressive Disorder.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety, PTSD, and depression is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's current mental health diagnosis of PTSD is at least as likely as not associated with his reported stressors and considering nearly three decades of VA treatment records supporting the diagnosis.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 70 percent since October 14, 2020, reflecting significant impairment in occupational and social functioning.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating of PTSD and a TDIU prior to September 28, 2022 is being remanded due to the failure to obtain Social Security Administration (SSA) records relevant to his psychiatric problems.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to March 2, 2021, for service connection of PTSD and depression was granted. The earliest the effective date can be is June 30, 2011, when the Veteran initially filed her application.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error, and will need to obtain more information about the Veteran's in-service stressor and conduct further examinations to determine the nature and etiology of his acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and the Board denied an increased rating. The Veteran also sought TDIU based on his PTSD, but the Board found that he was not totally unemployable.

The Veteran's initial compensable disability rating for allergic rhinitis was denied.,The Veteran's initial disability rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD was denied.

The Veteran's service connection for OSA is granted, while the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and TDIU are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for residuals of right shoulder dislocation and headaches have been reopened, but denied. The claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and insomnia disorder) has also been denied.,Service connection for the left shoulder condition is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date and a higher disability rating for PTSD with major depressive disorder is denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support awarding either an earlier effective date or a higher disability rating.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and anxiety disorder, is granted as service connected.

The Board has granted an extension of the delimiting date for the Veteran's educational assistance benefits under Chapter 33, from June 1, 2018 to June 22, 2021, due to his service-connected PTSD and TBI preventing him from pursuing education during this period.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood as there is no credible evidence of an in-service event, and the symptoms did not have their onset during service.

The Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation of PTSD was denied, as the evidence did not show a significant increase in symptoms within one year prior to his April 17, 2019, submission.,The Veteran's TDIU claim was granted effective April 17, 2019, based on his service-connected disabilities preventing him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU was denied as his employment within the year prior to filing the claim was not considered substantially gainful.,An earlier effective date of February 8, 2021 was granted for service connection for PTSD and recurrent MDD with anxious distress.