PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 50% and his right thigh muscle injury at 40%. The appeals for higher ratings are denied. The Veteran also appealed for TDIU prior to July 15, 2021, which was denied.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including obtaining VA treatment records and determining if the Veteran's heart condition warrants a higher rating.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for PTSD service connection is dismissed as the claim was not timely filed and no CUE motion has been properly appealed.

The Board has dismissed the appeals regarding entitlement to a compensable evaluation for TBI prior to September 20, 2023 and entitlement to an evaluation in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with depressive disorder and TBI from September 20, 2023. The Veteran's legacy appeal was withdrawn when he opted into the modernized review system.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for service connection of PTSD, and the Board dismissed this issue.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 70 percent prior to December 19, 2023. The Board found that the severity of his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a 100 percent rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient opinions regarding whether the Veteran's bilateral hand tremors are caused by or aggravated by his service-connected TBI and PTSD, including the prescribed medication Quetiapine.

The Board has found that the VA did not substantially comply with its prior remand orders regarding scheduling of medical examinations for the Veteran's service connection claims. The appeals are therefore being returned to the AOJ for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for diabetes mellitus, sinus disability, acquired psychiatric disability (MDD, PTSD), cirrhosis of the liver, facial injury with six teeth missing, right eye injury, tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, and TBI. The issues are being returned to the RO/AMC for further development.

The Veteran's PTSD and tension headaches are granted initial evaluations of 100% effective April 3, 2024. The service connection for a back condition is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for depression has been reopened and granted. Service connection is also granted for neck and right arm pain as secondary to left ulnar neuropathy.

The Veteran was awarded a 70 percent disability rating for PTSD prior to August 21, 2023.,A total disability rating of 100 percent for PTSD was granted from August 21, 2023.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and unspecified trauma and stressor related disorders. The decision is based on positive nexus opinions from the Veteran's treating physician.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, obstructive sleep apnea, and left upper extremity peripheral neuropathy, have prevented him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment since January 1, 2014.,Prior to February 10, 2016, the Veteran was not in receipt of a combined disability rating that met the criteria for SMC based on housebound status.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for unspecified trauma and stressor-related disorder with PTSD symptoms, finding that his contentions regarding traumatic experiences during service are credible and reasonable given the places, types, and circumstances of his service. The Board also found persuasive opinions from a private psychologist and VA examiner linking these diagnoses to in-service events.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have rendered him unemployable from November 15, 2018 to January 10, 2020. From January 10, 2020 onwards, he is in receipt of a 100% rating for PTSD with opioid use disorder.

Service connection for chronic rhinitis is granted, and a higher initial disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD from December 17, 2019, is also granted. Service connection for OSA and skin disorder are dismissed.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, along with his hearing loss and tinnitus, did not prevent him from securing or following substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for degenerative arthritis, PTSD, and a heart disability have been granted with effective dates of June 3, 2022.