PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for additional development to address his claims of service connection for a headache disability and an acquired psychiatric disability, including as residuals of TBI. The issues include determining whether these conditions are related to service-connected disabilities or other factors.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected PTSD, and for consideration of his TDIU claim.

The Veteran is granted an earlier effective date of September 26, 2019 for service connection of PTSD. The claim was initially filed on that date and the decision granting service connection was issued in October 2020.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted, and the effective date for a 50% rating for bilateral pes planus was set at September 11, 2019. The Veteran's request for an earlier effective date for the 50% rating was denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, MDD, and panic disorder, is rated at 70 percent since July 6, 2019. The other issues remain denied.

The Veteran's appeal for an evaluation in excess of 50 percent for PTSD has been withdrawn by the Veteran, resulting in the dismissal of this issue.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, and will reconsider the claim based on new service records. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability is being evaluated for its relationship to active service.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU prior to September 12, 2017 is being remanded due to the need for referral to the Director of Compensation Service under 38 C.F.R. § 4.16(b) based on evidence indicating she has been unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment since at least April 24, 2013.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with alcohol use disorder and major depressive disorder is rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds that this rating does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to occupational and social impairment. The Veteran maintains employment and has maintained relationships with family members.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and set the effective date to March 31, 2022. The Veteran had a current diagnosis of PTSD at the time he submitted his claim to reopen in March 2022.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are being remanded due to the need to obtain additional VA clinical records.,The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 10 percent for lateral collateral ligament sprain, left ankle is being remanded as he has submitted evidence indicating an increase in his occupational impairment since the October 2016 examination.,The Veteran's claims for service connection for right ear hearing loss and entitlement to a compensable rating for left ear hearing loss are being remanded due to inadequate rationale provided by the VA examiner.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for right knee disability is being remanded as there was no medical evidence of any pre-service injury or condition, and the need for an examination with opinion regarding whether it clearly and unmistakably preexisted service.,The Veteran's claim for service connection for left knee disability is being remanded due to inadequate rationale provided by the VA examiner. The need for an examination with opinion regarding whether it was related to a February 1988 inservice incident is also needed.,The Veteran's TDIU claim is being remanded as there are inextricably intertwined issues that must be addressed first.

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeal regarding the reduction of his PTSD rating from 70 percent to 30 percent, effective March 22, 2023. As a result, the Board does not have jurisdiction to review this matter.

The Veteran's cervical scar claim is denied, and the psychiatric disorder claim is remanded for further development.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal for the issue of entitlement to an increased evaluation for PTSD during a hearing before the Board. As a result, the appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted an initial rating of 70 percent, but no higher. The symptoms are severe enough to warrant a 70 percent rating, but not so severe as to meet the criteria for a 100 percent rating.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) as secondary to his service-connected posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of May 4, 2005 for the award of a 50 percent disability rating for PTSD. The Veteran's claim was pending and VA had constructive possession of relevant medical records within one year of the initial decision.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, hypertension, right ear hearing loss, left ear hearing loss, headache disorder, and urinary problems/condition was denied. The case is REMANDED for further development.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, finding that there was no evidence linking his current psychiatric conditions to his military service.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for hypertension, atrial fibrillation, and diabetes mellitus, type II. The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability to include PTSD and a right knee disability are denied due to lack of evidence supporting these conditions.