PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric disability, including PTSD with major depressive disorder and panic disorder, resulted in total occupational and social impairment since May 30, 2012. The Board granted an effective date of May 30, 2012, for the award of a 100 percent rating for this condition and SMC based on housebound criteria.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD has been withdrawn by the appellant, resulting in the dismissal of this issue.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD has been withdrawn by the appellant, resulting in the dismissal of this issue.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to insufficient medical evidence regarding his need for aid and attendance or housebound status, specifically related to his service-connected PTSD and diabetes mellitus.

The reduction of the Veteran's PTSD with MDD disability rating from 100% to 70%, effective September 1, 2020, was proper.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for left ear hearing loss has been denied as his current level of disability does not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.,The Board is remanding the issues of service connection for low back disability, coronary artery disease (CAD), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD) due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's National Guard service dates.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is granted with an effective date of January 19, 2019. The Board found the Veteran was unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has dismissed the appeal for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to posttraumatic stress disorder because it is a duplicate appeal that was previously adjudicated.

The Board has determined that there was a duty to assist error in the initial development of the claim and has remanded for further action, including obtaining a VA medical opinion regarding the cause of the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service connected. The Veteran's PTSD remains at a 50 percent rating, but the Board finds that he does not meet the criteria for an increased rating.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of January 1, 2020, was denied as the earliest effective date that can be assigned is April 15, 2020. The Board found that the pursuit via prior claims and appeals ended with no timely responses.

The Veteran's combined rating for service-connected disabilities was not at a 100% level before October 11, 2019. The Board denied her request for an earlier effective date.

The Veteran's disability rating for PTSD was reduced from 70 to 50 percent, but the Board has restored the original 70 percent rating effective February 1, 2021.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as he was gainfully employed prior to May 14, 2020, despite his service-connected PTSD. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of unemployability due to his disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's Obstructive Sleep Apnea is secondary to his service-connected Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and thus grants service connection for OSA.

The Veteran's initial 30 percent rating for PTSD remains in effect, but the Board is remanding the case to obtain additional treatment records from his time in prison.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for PTSD is being remanded due to a duty to assist error involving missing private treatment records from 2006 and Vet Center records from 2007 to 2010.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol use disorder is currently rated at 70 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted due to lack of total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has restored a 100 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder, effective July 1, 2021, as the reduction from 100 to 70 percent was not proper due to insufficient evidence of improvement.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating of in excess of 50 percent is not warranted based on the severity, frequency, and duration of his symptoms.