PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, and the Board has granted entitlement to TDIU.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) is rated at a 70 percent disability rating from April 16, 2019.,TDIU for the service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder alone was granted starting September 1, 2019. The Veteran now has a combined disability rating of 100% due to his service-connected condition and other disabilities.,SMC at the housebound rate is granted starting September 1, 2019.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's current acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and Generalized Anxiety Disorder, is related to his active service.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and PTSD, is at least as likely as not related to his service in which he found dead bodies. Therefore, the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service-connected, with the decision based on new evidence provided by her during the appeal process.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for PTSD and gunshot wound service connection, so the claims are dismissed.

The Veteran's PTSD, anxiety, and depression are granted as service-connected. The Veteran's insomnia is denied due to lack of evidence linking it to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 70 percent disability rating since June 21, 2023.

The Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates for PTSD and pansinusitis are denied as there was no evidence of a factually ascertainable increase in disability within one year prior to the December 21, 2018 claim.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service-connected PTSD is denied because the issue of whether there was a clear and unmistakable error (CUE) in the November 2008 rating decision has not been adjudicated by the AOJ.

An effective date of January 7, 2021, is granted for the assignment of a 70 percent rating for PTSD.,Effective dates earlier than June 3, 2021, are denied for all other disabilities on appeal.

The Veteran's claim for an increased disability rating for PTSD from September 9, 2021 to September 27, 2021 is denied as the Veteran has already been assigned a total disability rating for PTSD throughout this period.

The Veteran's claims for a compensable rating for right knee strain, service connection for PTSD, and service connection for brain hemorrhage are remanded due to the need for additional development.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is being remanded due to the need for a VA examination and verification of his periods of service. The Board also notes that there was a duty to assist error in the initial decision.

The Board has determined that the AOJ's failure to obtain an adequate medical opinion constitutes a pre-decisional duty to assist error and remand is necessary to obtain an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's PTSD, depression, bipolar disorder, and alcohol abuse disorder.

The Veteran's OSA is being remanded for a new VA opinion to determine if it is caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD, obesity (as an intermediate step), or another condition. The Veteran contends that his weight gain due to antipsychotic medication for PTSD may be the cause of his OSA.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is secondary to his service-connected PTSD and also due to a lack of an examination for direct service connection. The Veteran will need further examinations and medical opinions.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and lumbar spine disability are found to have caused his obesity, which in turn caused his OSA. The Board has granted service connection for OSA on a secondary basis.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, bilateral hearing loss, left knee disability, and vertigo due to a lack of current diagnoses or evidence linking these conditions to military service.,Service connection was not granted as the appellant did not meet the criteria for service connection under direct service connection.

The Board has granted an effective date of October 30, 2012 for the award of a TDIU and DEA benefits due to new and material evidence received within one year of the April 2013 rating decision.,The Veteran's service-connected PTSD rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment at that time.