PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for PTSD was denied, and the effective date of his current 70 percent rating remains January 5, 2023.,The Veteran also appealed for an earlier effective date for his current 70 percent rating. This appeal is also denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, tinnitus, and bilateral hearing loss, have rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since May 1, 2014. The Board has granted a TDIU effective from that date.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and TDIU due to inextricably intertwined issues. The Veteran's claim is being reviewed again with a new VA examination.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for financial assistance in acquiring specially adapted housing due to his service-connected disabilities resulting in loss of use of both lower extremities. The appeal seeking a special home adaptation grant is dismissed as moot.

The Veteran is seeking an earlier effective date for the grant of individual unemployability prior to January 29, 2018. The Board has determined that he meets the criteria for a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities but needs further review by the Director, Compensation Service due to the need for an extraschedular evaluation.

The Veteran's cervical spine and psychiatric disabilities are granted as service-connected. The claim for IBS is remanded due to the need for a medical opinion.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has been granted an initial rating of 100 percent, effective from the date of the September 2020 decision.

The Veteran's hypertension is rated as noncompensable, and the Board denied an initial compensable rating.,An effective date of January 9, 2022 was granted for a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD. The Board found that this rating arose within one year prior to the Veteran filing his claim for increased benefits.,Service connection for hypertension was not granted earlier than August 10, 2022 as there were no unadjudicated claims or documents indicating an intent to file a claim for hypertension.

The Veteran's initial 50 percent disability rating for migraine headaches has been restored, effective December 1, 2019.,The appeal for an increased PTSD rating was withdrawn and the appeal is dismissed.

The Board has remanded the case due to missing service treatment records and the need for a medical opinion regarding the Appellant's mental state at the time of his misconduct. The issues include determining whether the character of discharge is a bar to VA benefits, as well as seeking service connection for physical disorders and PTSD.

The Veteran's SMC housebound rate is granted, and separate ratings of 30 percent for right and left knee instability are also granted. However, increased ratings for the Veteran's knee disabilities (left knee limitation of flexion, left knee limitation of extension, and right knee limitation of flexion) are denied.

The Veteran's PTSD with adjustment disorder, depressed mood and TBI residuals have been rated at 70 percent since October 13, 2020. The Board finds that the Veteran is entitled to a 70 percent disability evaluation for his service-connected PTSD for the entire period on appeal beginning February 27, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional records and provide appropriate VA examinations.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a disability rating of 30 percent, effective from July 6, 2019. The VA examiner found the Veteran had occupational and social impairment with occasional decrease in work efficiency and intermittent periods of inability to perform tasks.

The Board has restored the Veteran's disability rating for PTSD from 70% to 50%, finding that the reduction was improper due to a lack of material improvement in symptoms under ordinary conditions of life.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but no higher, for the entire period on appeal. The symptoms more closely approximate a 70 percent disability rating.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD because the evidence did not show a current disability, and found that the Veteran's symptoms were better explained by GAD.

The Board has granted an effective date of January 12, 2010 for the grant of service connection for PTSD. The Veteran's claim was reopened due to new and material VA treatment records received within a year of the March 2010 rating decision.

The Veteran's appeal to reopen service connection for bilateral hearing loss is denied. The claim for service connection for PTSD has been remanded due to the need for a medical opinion.

The Veteran's SMC was reduced due to the removal of his single service-connected disability rated at 100 percent. The Board found that he is no longer in receipt of a 100 percent rating for any single service-connected disability, thus denying his appeal to restore SMC.