PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder is rated at the highest possible level of disability (100%), due to total occupational and social impairment caused by symptoms such as intrusive thoughts, nightmares, avoidance efforts, irritability, hypervigilance, concentration problems, depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances.

The appeal to reduce the Veteran's PTSD, unspecified major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder rating from 70% to 30% was dismissed because the reduction did not occur in the September 2020 decision. The Veteran will not be prejudiced by this dismissal.

The Veteran's TDIU was granted with an effective date of June 2, 2016. The Board finds that the RO failed to obtain necessary financial information from the Veteran prior to this effective date and remands for further action.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for anxiety disorder is denied. Prior to August 22, 2020, his PTSD was rated at 50 percent and the claim for an increased rating for PTSD is also denied.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD is being remanded due to the VA's failure to obtain his mental health treatment records from the Vet Center in Raleigh, North Carolina.

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection and rating issues related to low back pain, contact dermatitis, migraine headaches, PTSD, sleep apnea, IBS, left ear hearing loss, bilateral knees, and bilateral shoulders as untimely.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for various conditions and rating issues, leading to the dismissal of all related matters.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for PTSD was dismissed because the October 2020 Notice of Disagreement was invalid due to concurrent election.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent since December 28, 2009, and the Board has granted a rating of 70 percent for this period. The appeal was denied for periods prior to August 5, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for various conditions, including PTSD, were denied effective from the date of receipt of his claim in September 1989. The Board found that an earlier effective date was not warranted due to the finality of the prior decisions and the lack of a valid appeal.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is denied.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for schizoaffective disorder is granted.

The Veteran's PTSD with a mood disorder and cannabis abuse is rated for the period from February 16, 2010, to March 17, 2021. The Board has ordered further examination due to incomplete documentation of the Veteran's symptoms.

The appeal of the proposed reduction in the evaluation of PTSD with generalized anxiety disorder from 70% to 50% was dismissed as premature due to the nature of a proposed action, not an actual decision.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent disabling, and the appeal for an increased rating has been denied. The Veteran was granted TDIU as of February 11, 2020.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for increased ratings and TDIU, effective upon the Board's receipt of their requests. As a result, the appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's PTSD has been productive of total occupational and social impairment since December 3, 2010. The Board granted entitlement to a total disability evaluation for PTSD from that date.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and incomplete development of the Veteran's personnel file. The claims will be reviewed again with additional evidence and a new opinion from an examiner.

The Veteran's initial rating for headaches prior to July 13, 2016 is granted at 30 percent. A higher rating of over 30 percent for headaches beginning July 13, 2016 is denied. SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) is also denied.

The Veteran's other specified trauma and stressor related disorder is granted as service connected.,PTSD was denied due to lack of a current diagnosis according to DSM-5 criteria.,Sleep disturbance, including obstructive sleep apnea, is remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and thoracic spine compression, as well as his claim for TDIU, are being remanded due to the need for additional development including obtaining relevant medical records.