PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2024

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for a higher disability rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation during the period from December 17, 2020 to January 8, 2023. The Board granted entitlement to Total Disability Rating for Individual Unemployability (TDIU) based on this condition.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in obtaining the Veteran's Social Security Administration (SSA) records and for an addendum opinion regarding his acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and effective dates are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining private medical records and scheduling a VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD, MDD, and alcohol use disorder are found to be at least as likely as not due to in-service stressors. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Board has remanded the case due to new and relevant evidence received, including a VA examination and private treatment records. The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being readjudicated as part of his claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder. However, there are uncertainties regarding the dates of active duty, ACDUTRA, and INACDUTRA, which need to be verified.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for PTSD and insomnia disorder was denied as there is no evidence of a timely filed appeal or intent to file a claim prior to September 2021. The current effective date of September 12, 2021, is the correct one.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's claimed stressors and failure to provide adequate notice on alternative sources of evidence for personal assault claims.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 5, 2019, for service connection of PTSD was denied as the earliest effective date is set at June 25, 2019.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 70 percent rating, but no higher, due to occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate VA examination and a duty to assist error.

The Veteran is entitled to an earlier effective date of May 15, 2014 for the grant of a TDIU due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for a right ankle disability prior to October 3, 2015 is denied. The claims for service connection of PTSD and TDIU are granted with an initial evaluation of 70 percent effective February 22, 2012, and a total disability rating based on individual unemployability effective September 13, 2015.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's service connection claims for PTSD and an acquired psychiatric disability, including MDD and anxiety. The AOJ is required to provide a VA examination to determine if these conditions are related to service.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD as there is no diagnosis of PTSD in the Veteran's records, and his statements are not competent medical evidence.

The Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is caused by his service-connected PTSD and depression, and the Board has granted service connection for OSA on a secondary basis.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for service-connected PTSD was denied. The Board has remanded the claim due to new evidence and further development is required.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including his right shoulder disability and PTSD, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation. The Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent effective October 19, 2018. The rating reflects occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of entitlement to service connection for sleep apnea, which is secondary to service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The AOJ must obtain an addendum opinion regarding whether the Veteran's sleep apnea is at least as likely as not aggravated by PTSD.