PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2024

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression, PTSD, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as anxiety and stress) due to a lack of current diagnoses.

The Board has dismissed the appeals as the Veteran's authorized representative withdrew all pending claims.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70 percent since the appeal period began, and the Board finds that this rating is appropriate as his symptoms do not meet or approximate the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms caused occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, but not total social and occupational impairment. The claim for a higher rating is denied.

Service connection for PTSD was granted with an effective date of August 21, 2013.,TDIU was granted with an effective date of February 1, 2014.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The Board finds that the evidence supports a finding of service connection for his acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, unspecified depressive disorder, and substance use disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations and incomplete records. The Veteran is entitled to additional etiology opinions on his acquired psychiatric, respiratory, cardiac, vestibular, hearing loss/tinnitus, and orthopedic disabilities.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there is no current diagnosis of PTSD or any other acquired psychiatric disorder at any point throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's initial increased rating claim for PTSD and his TDIU claim are being remanded due to a duty to assist error. A new VA examination is needed to determine the severity of his service-connected psychiatric disability, including any overlapping neurocognitive disorder.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's August 2020 HLR to be valid and that the underlying claims of entitlement to an effective date earlier than June 25, 2008 for the assignment of a 70 percent rating for PTSD and entitlement to TDIU prior to June 25, 2008 must be reinstated. The matter is REMANDED for further development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is denied as the evidence does not establish a link between his current psychiatric symptoms and active duty service. The VA examiner concluded that the Veteran's current psychiatric symptoms are more likely related to willful misconduct during service.

The Veteran's headaches have been rated at 50 percent since November 2, 2020.,Basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) was granted effective November 2, 2020.

The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is rated at 50 percent, but no higher, due to secondary service connection from his posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Board has granted a rating of 70 percent for the Veteran's PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder, effective from the date of his claim filing in August 2017.

The Veteran is granted special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected peripheral neuropathy disabilities, which have rendered him wheelchair dependent and unable to perform daily tasks.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected post-traumatic stress disorder, and thus grants service connection for OSA.

PTSD is granted with a 100% rating effective April 17, 2020.,Right knee flexion and left knee flexion are each granted a 20% rating effective December 28, 2020.,Right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy are each granted a 20% rating effective December 28, 2020.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol use disorder is granted an initial rating of 70 percent from June 29, 2020, and the effective date for this rating remains August 17, 2017.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol abuse disorder is granted as service-connected. Bilateral hearing loss and radiculopathy of the upper extremities are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities are found to warrant the need for regular aid and attendance of another person, but a VA examination is needed to determine if these conditions alone cause such need.