PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2024

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to incomplete records and deficiencies in VA opinions. The Veteran's claims will be reconsidered with additional evidence and a new examination.

The Board has granted service connection for OSA as secondary to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, finding that the evidence supports a medical nexus between the two conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, left knee strain, lumbar spine intervertebral disk degeneration with arthritis, and sciatic radiculopathy have precluded him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment since April 20, 2021. As a result, the Board has granted an effective date of April 20, 2021 for TDIU and DEA benefits.

The Veteran is granted SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(o) and (r)(1) as of September 28, 2021 due to service-connected disabilities resulting in need for regular aid and attendance.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted.,The Veteran's claim for secondary service connection for ED as secondary to PTSD is granted.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is denied.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to a duty-to-assist error related to the scheduling of VA examinations. The Board finds it unclear whether the Veteran received proper notice of the scheduled appointments and thus, the claims are being returned for further action.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 100% evaluation, and the issue of service connection for migraines is remanded.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and his sleep apnea is rated at 50 percent. The neck strain issue has been remanded for further examination.,Service connection for the neck strain will be determined based on whether it was caused or aggravated by a service-connected condition.

The Board has remanded the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including anxiety and PTSD, due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors in the examination and medical opinion provided.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for service connection awards of PTSD, degenerative arthritis of the spine with lumbosacral strain, tension headaches, status-post left inguinal herniorrhaphy, costochondritis, and PFB and bilateral paronychia.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment from April 30, 2008, to December 15, 2009.

The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of beneficiary travel expenses to the Augusta VAMC on July 9, 2024 is granted. The Board found that the Augusta VAMC was the nearest VA facility where the care could be provided due to the Veteran's long history of seeing a specific mental health provider there.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating for PTSD was dismissed as the appeal was improperly docketed and does not meet the criteria to be reviewed by the Board.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to errors in verifying the Veteran's claimed stressors and a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The claims will be reconsidered after further development.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection and increased disability ratings have been dismissed due to procedural issues, including failure to timely file a VA Form 10182 or provide good cause for the delay.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, vertigo, and IBS, rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment. The Board granted entitlement to total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) for accrued benefits purposes.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment, and the Board has determined that his TDIU appeal is denied.

The Board granted entitlement to an effective date of November 16, 2007 for TDIU on an extraschedular basis and for basic eligibility for DEA benefits. The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to June 3, 2016.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 10 percent prior to July 22, 2023 and denied a higher rating. Beginning July 22, 2023, the Veteran's PTSD was still rated at 10 percent.