PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2024

The Veteran's claims for service connection for fibromyalgia, psychiatric disability other than unspecified anxiety disorder with unspecified neurocognitive disorder, and urination disability were denied. The claim for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for migraine headaches was also denied.

Your appeals for increased ratings for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and a total disability rating have been dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 100 percent effective January 29, 2019. The Board found that new and material evidence had been submitted within one year of the October 2018 rating decision supporting a higher evaluation.

The Veteran's PTSD with MST did not result in total occupational and social impairment, so the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent was denied.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and bipolar I disorder, has been granted. The Board found new evidence relevant to the issue since a previous final rating decision in October 2014. Service connection is established based on the Veteran's consistent reports of events during service and his long history of mental health symptoms.

The Veteran's PTSD with depressive disorder is currently rated as 70 percent disabling, but the Board finds that this rating adequately reflects his disability level and does not warrant a higher evaluation. The lumbosacral degenerative joint disease with L1 compression fracture is also rated at 40 percent, which the Board deems appropriate based on the evidence of record.

The Board has decided to remand three issues: the rating for PTSD, service connection for dizziness and vertigo, and service connection for a left foot disability. The Veteran's Social Security Administration records are needed to continue the review process.

The Veteran's initial compensable rating for migraine headaches is granted, while a higher rating for left knee tendonitis is denied. Service connection claims for cervical spine and left ankle disabilities are remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for treatment purposes only for a lumbar spine disability. The appeal regarding bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, left knee disability, and PTSD is remanded due to incomplete service personnel records.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating or service connection in all cases.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating of 100 percent for PTSD effective February 4, 2022 is granted. The reduction in disability rating from 70% to 50% was not proper.

The Board dismissed the appeal of a proposed reduction in the Veteran's rating for recurrent severe PTSD with major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder because it was not an adjudicative decision that could be appealed.

The Veteran's service connection claims for hearing loss and mental health conditions, including PTSD and GAD, have been granted. The Board found that the Veteran had a current disability (hearing loss and mental health conditions), in-service incurrence or aggravation of a disease or injury (noise exposure and stressors), and causal relationship between the current disabilities and in-service diseases or injuries.

The Board has granted an earlier effective date of September 23, 2021 for the award of service connection for migraine headaches and a TDIU due to service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD and Delusional Disorder was granted with an effective date of September 12, 2020. The decision acknowledges new evidence submitted after the January 2017 Board decision.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms are rated at 70 percent, but the Board finds no higher rating is warranted. Service connection for a right knee disability and neck disability is denied due to lack of current diagnosis or evidence of in-service injury. The low back disability claim is remanded for an addendum opinion.

The Veteran's service connection for asthma has been granted. The appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD) and migraine headache is remanded.

The Board has decided to remand the claim of service connection for GERD as secondary to PTSD due to an inadequate VA medical opinion. The Veteran's GERD is claimed to be caused or aggravated by his service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's request to readjudicate his claim of service connection for PTSD because no new and relevant evidence was submitted since the June 2022 rating decision.

The Veteran's PTSD rating has been restored to 70 percent effective August 1, 2022. The issue of TDIU is being readjudicated.