PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent her from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment during the period on appeal, thus TDIU is denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete service treatment records and unassociated private treatment records, which may establish that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder began in service. The AOJ is instructed to obtain these records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and unspecified anxiety disorder, is being remanded due to a duty-to-assist error. The AOJ must develop the Veteran's reported stressor(s) and schedule him for a VA psychiatric examination.

The Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to January 11, 2012, for PTSD service connection and for migraine headaches are denied. The Veteran's claim for right hand and right middle finger disability is remanded.

The Veteran's hospitalization for PTSD was not considered a service-connected disability at the time of his admission, as service connection had not been granted until December 9, 2019. Therefore, he did not meet the criteria for a temporary total rating based on hospitalization in excess of 21 days.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the appellant requested to withdraw their appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected major depressive disorder with posttraumatic stress syndrome (PTSD). The decision is based on a finding that OSA is proximately due to PTSD.

The Veteran's claim for a compensable rating for hypertension is granted, effective September 11, 2012. The issue of entitlement to TDIU prior to January 1, 2017 and earlier effective date for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) eligibility are remanded.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for TDIU and SMC based on housebound status due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically regarding the referral of his claim for extraschedular consideration prior to April 4, 2018.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for PTSD with persistent depressive disorder and traumatic brain injury was dismissed due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal in February 2020.

The Veteran's appeals for increased evaluations for PTSD and right knee strain have been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and major depressive disorder, finding that her obesity, which is related to her mental health conditions, led to her current condition.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss have been granted. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded due to a lack of a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as Social Adjustment Disorder) to include PTSD and depression, but denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome and hypertension. The Veteran's hypertension is currently rated as noncompensable.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence linking the Veteran's PTSD to his military service. The Veteran needs a VA medical opinion to determine if there is a link between his current PTSD and an in-service stressor.

The Veteran's TDIU and Dependents' Educational Assistance claims were granted for the period from July 16, 2019 to April 22, 2020 due to his service-connected hearing loss and PTSD.

The Board has granted an initial disability rating of 70 percent for the appellant's acquired psychiatric disorder, which includes PTSD and dysthymic disorder. The TDIU claim is also granted.

The Veteran's service-connected conditions do not render him in need of the regular aid and attendance of another person, as his disabilities do not significantly impair his ability to perform daily activities.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder, claimed as PTSD, is dismissed because the claim has been fully granted with a grant of service connection for PTSD.

The reduction of the Veteran's PTSD rating from 70% to 50% was not proper, and the 70% rating is restored. The Veteran's claim for Individual Unemployability (TDIU) is granted.