PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2024

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD, finding that it is at least as likely as not related to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's timely substantive appeal was received in response to a June 2018 Statement of the Case (SOC) addressing his claims for service connection for PTSD and hypertension. The appeal is granted, and his legacy appeal with respect to these issues is reinstated.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in the initial decision and a need for further development, including verification of PTSD stressors and an examination to determine if the acquired psychiatric disability is related to service.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service-connected due to a new in-service stressor related to her deployment in Iraq, and the Board finds that the Veteran's statements regarding her symptoms are credible.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for dizziness and left ear hearing loss were dismissed. Service connection was granted for hypertension, bladder obstruction, and PTSD on a direct basis.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol use disorder is rated at 70 percent from July 24, 2023. The rating will remain at 100 percent starting June 5, 2024.

The Veteran's PTSD with somatic symptom disorder and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood is granted a 100 percent disability rating, effective August 20, 2024. The claim for an initial compensable rating for Female Sexual Arousal Disorder (FSAD) remains denied.

The Veteran's claim for migraine headaches is granted retroactively from February 5, 2021. The claim for a psychiatric disability (diagnosed as depressive disorder) is remanded due to the need for an adequate medical opinion and possible earlier effective date.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for total disability based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied. The Board found that the Veteran's TDIU claim was part of his initial PTSD service connection claim and thus, the effective date should be the same as the date assigned for service connection.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD claim should be remanded for a more complete VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of his claimed disability.

The Veteran's IBS has been granted an initial rating of 30 percent, and his PTSD has been granted an initial rating of 70 percent. The Veteran's claim for service connection for GERD and sleep apnea is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to inadequate medical opinions and a need for further examination. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD and Adjustment Disorder, are being reviewed again.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 70% since September 18, 2012. The Board granted an effective date of September 18, 2012 for the grant of TDIU and basic eligibility for Dependents' Education Assistance (DEA) benefits.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD with MDD is granted, effective April 2, 2019. The effective date of the award of a 70 percent disability rating for this condition is set at April 2, 2019.

The February 23, 2010 rating decision granted service connection for PTSD with an effective date of April 13, 2009. The Veteran argues that there was clear and unmistakable error in this decision due to the unadjudicated claim for nervousness included in his March 1970 formal claim.

The Veteran's PTSD and MDD are rated at 50 percent, which is the maximum rating available under the applicable criteria. The Board has denied his request for a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date and higher initial rating for PTSD was denied. The earliest effective date assigned is October 18, 2018.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error regarding the appellant's mental state at the time of misconduct leading to his OTH discharge. The VA will need to provide an opinion on whether he was insane.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD results in symptoms causing occupational and social impairment, with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood. The criteria for entitlement to an evaluation of 70 percent for PTSD are met.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for PTSD with alcohol use disorder was granted, and she is now in receipt of the highest schedular rating available (100 percent) since August 22, 2018. The Board found that her condition met the criteria for a 100 percent disability rating during this period.