PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2024

The Board has dismissed the appeals of the Veteran's claims for increased evaluations of bilateral hearing loss and posttraumatic stress disorder. The appeal regarding service connection for right lower extremity peripheral neuropathy (claimed as blockage) is remanded, and so is the one for left lower extremity peripheral neuropathy.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) is remanded due to the failure to obtain his Social Security Administration (SSA) records, which show he has been receiving SSA disability benefits during the appeal period.

The Board has remanded the case due to incomplete VA examination and a need for an addendum opinion regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted service connection effective April 3, 2017. The other issues were denied as the earliest possible effective date is April 3, 2017.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's appeal for increases in the staged ratings (of 50 percent prior to February 2, 2016, and 70 percent since that date) for PTSD and MDD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that his schizophrenia clearly and unmistakably existed prior to service and was not aggravated by service.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms, including panic attacks, depression, and social withdrawal, have caused significant impairment in work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, and mood. The Board has granted a 70 percent rating from January 18, 2017.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher than 50 percent rating.,The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy is currently rated at 10 percent, and the Board finds that it meets the criteria for a 40 percent rating.

The Veteran's claims for an increased evaluation for PTSD and TDIU are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional VA treatment records from his incarceration period.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and procedural errors. The issues include PTSD, anxiety, back disability, prostate cancer, intestinal disorder, erectile dysfunction, kidney disorder, and abdominal disability.

The Veteran's PTSD, with bipolar II disorder and alcohol use disorder, is granted a 100 percent initial rating effective from the date of service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent effective April 16, 2020. The rating agency found that the Veteran's disability picture more closely approximated occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas throughout the period on appeal.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and related conditions, due to a lack of credible supporting evidence for the claimed in-service stressors.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are rated at 30 percent for the entire period on appeal, and his service connection claims for degenerative arthritis of the left knee and plantar fasciitis have been reopened but denied.

The Veteran's claims have been dismissed due to their death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims.

The Veteran's claims for TDIU and an increased rating for PTSD are being remanded due to missing VA treatment records and outstanding SSA records. The AOJ will need to obtain these records before further action can be taken.

The Board has granted service connection for obstructive sleep apnea and has remanded the issues of higher ratings for PTSD and TBI with a cognitive disorder.

The Board dismissed the appeals for an effective date prior to November 23, 2016, for PTSD service connection and a disability rating in excess of 20 percent prior to March 3, 2020, for duodenal ulcer with gastroesophageal reflux disease, hepatitis B, and esophagus stricture due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD, major depressive disorder, and alcohol use disorder was denied as there is no evidence to support a prior effective date before June 23, 2014.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD. The Veteran's treatment records need to be obtained and reviewed.