PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2024

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty-to-assist error and inadequate medical opinion regarding the Veteran's pre-existing depressive symptoms.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to duty-to-assist errors, including obtaining additional medical opinions and records. The Veteran's statements regarding in-service stressors will be considered during the examination process.

The Veteran's OSA is granted as secondary to his PTSD. The reduction of his PTSD rating from 70% to 50% was denied.

The Veteran's tinnitus is granted as service-connected.,The Veteran's low back, right knee, left knee, right shoulder, and left shoulder conditions are remanded for further development.,The Veteran's psychiatric condition (including PTSD, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder) and hypertension are remanded for further development.,The Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 100% disability rating for service-connected PTSD is denied. The Board found no evidence of an increase in the Veteran's disability prior to July 31, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating higher than 50 percent for service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder is remanded due to outstanding private treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on the need for regular aid and attendance is remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Board requires an adequate VA examination to clarify whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities cause him to require the aid and attendance of another.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence to establish a service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and PTSD. The Veteran's claim will be reconsidered with additional development.

The Veteran's appeal was timely submitted after requesting an extension of time to file his substantive appeal due to the need for a claims file review. The Board found good cause and accepted the appeal, which is now considered valid.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, and will consider all evidence of record for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD were denied in April 1989 and May 1991 due to failure to provide the requested evidence and report for a VA examination. The Board found no CUE in these decisions.

The Veteran's unspecified anxiety disorder is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has determined that this rating is not sufficient to warrant a higher rating based on his symptoms.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent from September 4, 2020, to December 15, 2020. A TDIU rating is granted.

The Board has readjudicated the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, a heart condition, and hypertension due to new evidence submitted since the August 2019 rating decision. The Veteran's stressor statement provided in March 2020 was considered, along with VA treatment records and a VA examination, which supported reopening of these claims.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of PTSD was continuously pursued since January 5, 2019. The Board granted an effective date of January 5, 2019, but no earlier, for the award of service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has determined that this rating is not higher based on his current symptoms.

The Veteran has withdrawn their appeal of the claim for service connection for PTSD.

The appellant has withdrawn all appeals related to various conditions, including scar from fibular fracture repair and right knee strain. The Board dismissed the appeal due to the withdrawal.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 30 percent for major depressive disorder (also claimed as PTSD, severe depression, and anxiety) was denied. The claim for a compensable rating for status post left varicocele ligation was also denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence to verify the Veteran's claimed stressors related to his service on the USS Toledo (SSN 769). The AOJ is instructed to make reasonable efforts to obtain credible supporting evidence for the Veteran's claimed stressors.