PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the claims for accrued compensation benefits for Parkinson's disease and PTSD due to incomplete service treatment records. The VA is required to attempt to obtain these records from appropriate repositories.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his TBI with PTSD has been dismissed because the Veteran requested withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's other specified anxiety disorder (previously rated as PTSD) is now rated at 50 percent, which meets the criteria for occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Veteran's death was attributed to multiple blunt force injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident, not related to his service-connected conditions. The Board found no evidence linking the cause of death to active duty or service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 100% disability rating, effective August 13, 2018. The earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD is denied. The TDIU issue is dismissed as moot due to the grant of a 100% disability rating.

The Veteran's claim for TDIU and basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance was granted from May 29, 2019. The appellant waived his right to attorney fees based on the August 2020 Rating Decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied, but the Board expanded it to include major depressive disorder. The Board found that the Veteran has a current diagnosis of major depressive disorder and established a causal relationship between his in-service experience and his current condition. Therefore, service connection is granted for major depressive disorder.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in fulfilling pre-decisional duty to assist and statutory duties. The Veteran's current sleep apnea is being examined for secondary service connection to PTSD, direct service connection, and potential PACT Act exposure-related claims.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU effective January 6, 2019, due to his service-connected PTSD. The Board found that the Veteran's PTSD rendered him unable to maintain substantially gainful employment prior to December 20, 2019.

The Board has restored the Veteran's disability rating for PTSD from 50% to 30%, effective July 1, 2020.

The Veteran's PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder is now rated at 100% effective July 1, 2020.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea, which is secondary to his service-connected PTSD and TBI, must be remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. An addendum opinion is needed from the VA examiner.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of painful right ankle scars is denied. The appeal for a rating greater than 30 percent for painful right ankle scars and a compensable rating for nonpainful right ankle scars is also denied. SMC based on the need for aid and attendance of another person prior to January 8, 2019, and after July 1, 2019, is granted.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the entitlement to service connection of PTSD is granted from September 19, 2019 - the date that the Veteran's ITF was received by VA.

The Veteran's coronary artery disease and PTSD have been granted initial and increased ratings.,Effective July 10, 2024, the Veteran is rated at 100 percent for both conditions.

The Veteran's appeal is dismissed as there are no issues to address regarding his service-connected conditions. The AOJ awarded an increased rating for PTSD and continued the existing ratings for left and right foot disabilities, effective September 22, 2020.

The Board has remanded the claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD and is considering other claims, including an increased rating for acquired psychiatric disorder and left wrist tendonitis. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder currently rated at 70% will not be granted a higher rating due to lack of total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD is granted, with the earliest possible effective date being March 22, 2017.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his service-connected PTSD with persistent depressive disorder and unspecified alcohol use disorder was denied as the evidence did not support a 100% disability evaluation due to lack of total occupational and social impairment.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus and has remanded the issue of a higher rating for PTSD.