PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's PTSD and MDD are service-connected, but the Board denied an increased rating for these conditions. The right knee disability and ED claims were also denied.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and Generalized Anxiety Disorder, are related to his combat service in Vietnam. Service connection is granted for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted with an effective date of September 4, 2018. The Board also granted a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD as of September 4, 2018.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence on the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and MDD. The Veteran needs a VA examination and an opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for recurrent right ankle sprains has been denied as the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.,The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for his right ankle surgical scar has been denied as the scar area is less than 144 square inches and not associated with underlying soft tissue damage.,The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD remains pending due to a duty-to-assist error in the prior decision.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for recurrent right ankle sprains has been denied as the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.,The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for his right ankle surgical scar has been denied as the scar area is less than 144 square inches and not associated with underlying soft tissue damage.,The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD remains pending due to a duty-to-assist error in the prior decision.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for recurrent right ankle sprains has been denied as the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.,The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for his right ankle surgical scar has been denied as the scar area is less than 144 square inches and not associated with underlying soft tissue damage.,The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD remains pending due to a duty-to-assist error in the initial decision.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for recurrent right ankle sprains has been denied as the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.,The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for his right ankle surgical scar has been denied as the scar area is less than 144 square inches and not associated with underlying soft tissue damage.,The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD remains pending due to a duty-to-assist error in the prior decision.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD due to a lack of proper notification regarding her in-service military sexual trauma (MST) and an insufficient verification of an additional in-service stressor involving the death of a fellow servicemember. The case will be returned for further development.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The VA needs to obtain an adequate medical opinion determining the severity of her service-connected TBI and PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for recurrent right ankle sprains has been denied as the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.,The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for his right ankle surgical scar has been denied as the scar area is less than 144 square inches and not associated with underlying soft tissue damage.,The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD remains pending due to a duty-to-assist error in the prior decision.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for recurrent right ankle sprains has been denied as the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.,The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for his right ankle surgical scar has been denied as the scar area is less than 144 square inches and not associated with underlying soft tissue damage.,The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD remains pending due to a duty-to-assist error in the prior decision.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted with an effective date of April 12, 2021. The Board finds that the combined effects of his service-connected right knee disability and PTSD with MDD prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were denied. The tinnitus and psoriasis with scarring are rated at the maximum allowed under VA regulations, while the acquired psychiatric disorder is not rated higher due to a lack of evidence showing impairment beyond what is already covered by the current rating.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for recurrent right ankle sprains has been denied as the evidence does not support a rating in excess of 10 percent.,The Veteran's appeal for a compensable rating for his right ankle surgical scar has been denied as the scar area is less than 144 square inches and not associated with underlying soft tissue damage.,The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD remains pending due to a duty-to-assist error in the prior decision.

The Veteran's PTSD, MDD, insomnia, and alcohol dependency resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas prior to May 29, 2021. The Board found that the evidence did not show total occupational and social impairment, thus a higher rating was denied.

The Board has granted an effective date of July 31, 2007 for the grant of Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Employment (TDIU). The claims seeking a higher rating for PTSD and earlier effective date for DEA are dismissed as withdrawn.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, arrhythmia, hypertension, diabetes, skin rash, sleep apnea, TBI, vertigo, and erectile dysfunction were denied as there is no persuasive evidence of a current disability or a link to service.,Specifically, the Board found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of PTSD under DSM-5 criteria at any time during or approximate to the pendency of the claim. The Veteran's arrhythmia and hypertension are conceded but do not meet the nexus requirement as there is no persuasive evidence they began in service.,The Veteran's diabetes was not shown as chronic in service, manifested to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period, or etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease. The Veteran's skin rash and sleep apnea were also denied due to lack of persuasive evidence.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, arrhythmia, hypertension, diabetes, skin rash, sleep apnea, TBI, vertigo, and erectile dysfunction were denied as there is no persuasive evidence of a current disability or a link to service.,Specifically, the Board found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of PTSD under DSM-5 criteria at any time during or approximate to the pendency of the claim. The Veteran's arrhythmia and hypertension are conceded but do not meet the nexus requirement as there is no persuasive evidence they began in service.,The Veteran's diabetes was not shown as chronic in service, manifested to a compensable degree within the applicable presumptive period, or etiologically related to an in-service injury or disease. The Veteran's skin rash and sleep apnea were also denied due to lack of persuasive evidence.

The Board has decided to remand the claims of service connection for PTSD and anxiety due to a duty-to-assist error. The Veteran's anxiety is not related to his military service, as there is no clear evidence that it pre-existed service or was aggravated by service.