PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to September 24, 2020, for the grant of service connection for PTSD is denied. The earliest possible effective date for the Veteran's grant of service connection for PTSD was September 24, 2020, when VA received his ITF application.

The Board has granted service connection for dry eyes, hypertension, an acquired psychiatric condition (including PTSD and generalized anxiety disorder), a left hand condition (carpal tunnel syndrome secondary to cervical condition), and a right hand condition (carpal tunnel syndrome secondary to cervical condition).

The Board has granted service connection for anxiety, depression, and PTSD as these conditions are at least as likely as not related to the Veteran's active military service.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol use disorder and major depression is currently rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that this rating is appropriate given her symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The Board will obtain an opinion on whether the Veteran's fatigue, or related symptoms are caused by his Gulf War service and/or service-connected PTSD.

The Veteran's erectile dysfunction is granted service connection. His PTSD is granted a 50 percent disability rating, which is the maximum available under the General Rating Formula for Mental Disorders. The Veteran's bilateral shin splints and hypertension are denied as they do not meet the criteria for compensable ratings.

The Board has dismissed the appeal due to procedural errors in docketing under the AMA system.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as secondary to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been dismissed due to the Veteran's attorney requesting withdrawal of the appeal prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current disability.,Service connection for low back pain and dysfunction is also denied due to lack of credible evidence linking the condition to active duty. The Veteran did not report recurrent back pain during his separation examination, and there are no contemporaneous medical records indicating treatment for this issue.,The Veteran's PTSD claim has been granted with a 50% rating since February 10, 2020. The Board found that the symptoms associated with PTSD more closely approximate those of a 70% disability rating.

The Veteran's effective dates for increased ratings, TDIU, and SMC have been set to August 16, 2021.,These decisions were based on the increase in severity of PTSD symptoms after March 4, 2020.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been presented to warrant readjudication of the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD. The appeal is remanded due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors regarding in-service stressor verification, VA examination scheduling, and further development of post-service treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been remanded due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The AOJ will now consider whether the Veteran meets the diagnostic criteria for PTSD.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for chronic kidney stones, unspecified anxiety disorder, and PTSD due to a lack of VA examination and incomplete medical records. The Veteran is presumed exposed to toxic substances during his military service.

The Veteran's unemployability due to his service-connected PTSD alone has been established, allowing for special monthly compensation based on housebound status.

The Veteran's hypertension, PTSD, diabetes, and peripheral neuropathies were granted service connection. The PTSD rating was reduced from 70% to 30%, effective July 1, 2020, for reasons related to the reduction process. Higher ratings for some of his disabilities were also granted.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the increased rating of PTSD and TDIU has been granted, with the effective date set at March 25, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD was denied, as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a disability rating of 100 percent.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU and DEA benefits was also denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for unspecified depressive disorder is remanded and will be reconsidered.

The Board has granted a higher initial disability rating of 70 percent for the service-connected PTSD, effective from April 28, 2019. The decision also notes that the issue of TDIU was abandoned due to incomplete information.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 70 percent rating prior to August 18, 2022, due to symptoms including suicidal ideation and reduced reliability in work and social relationships.