PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2024

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, Adjustment Disorder (also claimed as drug abuse), and Palpitations. The Veteran is already service connected for MDD, which covers symptoms similar to those of PTSD and Adjustment Disorder.

The Board has restored the Veteran's 100% rating for her psychiatric disabilities, as reducing it to 70% was improper.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, bruxism, and a disability manifested by chest pain due to outstanding private treatment records from Dr. T.M. and lack of information regarding where the Veteran was hospitalized in 2012.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bruxism, neck condition, bilateral hearing loss, and PTSD have all been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support granting any of these conditions on a standalone basis or due to military service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings were denied. The Board found that the severity, frequency, and duration of his PTSD symptoms did not more closely approximate a higher rating than 50 percent. For sinusitis, the Board noted there was no evidence of incapacitating episodes or near constant sinusitis requiring bed rest and treatment by a physician. For allergic rhinitis, there is no specific rating assigned as it does not meet the criteria for any particular disability code.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU effective December 12, 2001. The Board found that the earlier effective date of January 10, 2000 is warranted due to the Veteran's continuous pursuit of his claim for service connection and individual unemployability.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for service-connected Other Trauma and Stressor Related Disorder with Alcohol Use Disorder, unspecified, was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a higher rating based on her symptoms.,The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) with Panic Attacks and Alcohol Use Disorder was also denied. The Board concluded that the evidence did not support an increase to this level.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an increased evaluation for PTSD, finding that it was not factually ascertainable that a 70% evaluation had occurred prior to November 9, 2020.

The Veteran's appeals for reductions in the evaluations of his left wrist and shoulder disabilities, as well as PTSD, are granted. The evaluations have been restored.

The Veteran's SMC based on the need for regular aid and attendance was denied because he did not meet the criteria of needing regular aid and assistance due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent for the entire period on appeal, with some occupational and social impairment but not to a level that would warrant a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of PTSD was denied, and his TDIU claim was also denied. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms did not warrant a higher than 50 percent disability rating.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection claims have been remanded due to the need for further examination or evidence in several cases. The left knee strain claim remains denied, as does all other individual conditions except for those related to service connection.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for a 70 percent rating for PTSD, finding that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for such a rating prior to September 12, 2022.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent effective as of March 24, 2020. The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to incomplete service treatment records and the need for a posthumous retrospective psychiatric opinion. The claim will be reconsidered with additional evidence.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of service connection (October 14, 2014), and his left knee strain and left hip strain secondary to a service-connected left knee strain are granted with an effective date of June 10, 2015.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, a back condition, erectile dysfunction, flatfoot, hearing loss, and tinnitus were denied as there is no evidence of current disabilities or service connection.,No VA examinations were conducted to support the claims.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, which is the maximum schedular rating available. The Board denied an increased disability rating for PTSD and also denied entitlement to a Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability (TDIU) from May 21, 2014.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection for PTSD and tinnitus as they have been granted in prior rating decisions, and the appellant has withdrawn the appeal.