PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for PTSD was dismissed because he did not file the required Notice of Disagreement within one year after receiving the August 2019 rating decision.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals regarding tinnitus, PTSD effective date, and Dependents' Educational Assistance eligibility.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran was insane at the time of his misconduct and thus not subject to a bar on VA benefits due to dishonorable discharge. The character of the Appellant's discharge from service is also found not to be a bar to payment of VA benefits.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of an acquired psychiatric condition, including posttraumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder with alcohol and drug abuse. The Veteran's current diagnoses are considered sufficient to meet the requirement of a present disability under McLendon v. Nicholson, but Dr. D.W.'s opinion is insufficient for adjudicatory purposes.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's PTSD is related to his fear of hostile military or terrorist activity during service, and grants service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability including PTSD with alcohol use disorder, major depression, and adjustment disorder.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, Adjustment Disorder with Depressed Mood, and Anxiety, are found to be due to his in-service stressor of fear of hostile military activity. As such, service connection is granted.

The Board has granted a July 28, 2022 effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The Veteran began and saved his online fully developed claim on that date.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of unspecified mental disorder to include PTSD, depression and anxiety is denied. The Veteran's initial rating for this condition has been granted at a 50 percent evaluation, but no higher. The Veteran also received eligibility for TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD has not resulted in total occupational and social impairment for any period on appeal, thus the claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 70 percent is denied.

The VA has determined not to reduce the Veteran's PTSD rating, so the proposed reduction is dismissed.

The Veteran's intervertebral disc syndrome of the thoracolumbar spine is now rated at 40 percent, effective from May 28, 2018. The Veteran's PTSD symptoms are now rated at 100 percent, also effective from May 28, 2018.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at a 70 percent disability rating since November 15, 2023. The Board also granted entitlement to TDIU based on the severity of his service-connected disabilities.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, finding that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder at any time during the period at issue.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD prevents him from obtaining or maintaining substantially gainful employment, and the Board has granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU).

The Veteran's service connection for hypothyroidism and PTSD was granted with an effective date of December 6, 2020. The Board also found that the earlier effective date of November 22, 2016, is warranted due to new evidence received in July 2017.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a sleep disability, finding that his PTSD aggravates his current sleep disability. The decision is based on medical evidence and legal precedent.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for TBI was granted effective January 11, 2024. His psychiatric disorder with TBI is rated at 100% since March 13, 2019.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss claims are denied as there is no evidence of a current disability or in-service incurrence.,The Veteran's back disorder claim is remanded for further examination and opinion due to the absence of an adequate VA examination prior to the rating decision.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating of PTSD was denied, and a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss was also denied. The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50 percent.

The Veteran's PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder have been granted a 70 percent initial rating, effective from the date of the decision.