PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2024

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD, Anxiety Disorder, High Blood Pressure, and Tinnitus. The rating for his unspecified depressive disorder with unspecified trauma and stressor related disorder was reduced from 70% to 50%, effective August 1, 2022.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes, heart disability, and peripheral neuropathies, have rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation since July 27, 2007. The Board has granted the TDIU claim effective from that date.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is considered caused or aggravated by his service-connected conditions, including PTSD, migraine headaches, hypertension, right wrist sprain, left lower extremity radiculopathy, asthma, lumbar degenerative disc disease, GERD, and IBS.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was denied, and his TDIU claim was also denied due to the lack of a current diagnosis for PTSD. His depressive disorder accounts for all of his psychiatric symptomatology.

The Veteran's initial increased ratings for cervical strain and PTSD are denied as the evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the applicable VA rating schedule.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, MDD, and alcohol use disorder are currently rated at 70 percent. The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 70 percent.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for cause of death, finding that none of his service-connected conditions were a disease, injury, or complication that directly caused his death.

The Board has granted an initial rating of 70 percent for the Veteran's service-connected PTSD, effective from the date of the August 2019 decision. The rating is based on occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's OSA and pulmonary nodules were denied as they are not related to his active-duty service.,PTSD was denied due to the absence of a current diagnosis.

The Veteran's psychiatric disability, including PTSD, is granted as service-connected. Service connection for left and right ear hearing loss is denied.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disability, but denied service connection for a psychiatric disability other than PTSD. The decision is based on the evidence showing that the Veteran's current left knee pain had its onset in service and resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder is granted, with the effective date set at August 3, 2022.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent, which does not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to his symptoms of depression and anxiety.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for tinnitus is granted. The claim for an increased rating for PTSD is granted, with a 50% disability rating effective September 6, 2022. The claim for service connection for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.

The Veteran's degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with IVDS, radiculopathy, sciatic nerve, right lower extremity, and PTSD, unspecified depressive disorder, and other specified depressive disorder are all granted as service-connected.,PTSD is linked to in-service stressors, while the other conditions have been granted on a direct basis.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 30 percent disability rating effective January 24, 2019. The initial claim for an earlier period of service connection was denied.

The Board dismissed the appeal because the proposed reduction in rating for PTSD from 70% to 50% was not a final agency action that could be appealed.

The Board has decided to remand the claims for service connection for generalized anxiety disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder, as well as the claim for a compensable rating for TBI. The AOJ is required to obtain missing service records, verify in-service stressors, and provide adequate medical opinions regarding the nature and etiology of the Veteran's psychiatric disorders.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for right ear hearing loss is dismissed.,Service connection for PTSD with anxiety is denied. The Board notes that the evidence does not establish a current diagnosis of PTSD and finds no causal relationship between service and the diagnosed generalized anxiety disorder.,The claims for bilateral foot disability, lumbar spine disability, and lumbar radiculopathy are remanded due to new evidence received in 2023 and potential exposure to toxic chemicals during service.,Service connection for a lumbar spine disability is remanded. The Veteran's claim for lumbar radiculopathy remains pending.,The claims for bilateral foot disability, lumbar spine disability, and asthma are remanded due to the need for a TERA memorandum and ILER report.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities have not rendered him unable to obtain or maintain substantially gainful employment, and his claim for TDIU is denied.