PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2024

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for TBI prior to August 16, 2019; entitlement to a disability rating greater than 70 percent for TBI with memory loss and PTSD since August 16, 2019; and entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities prior to August 26, 2021.

The Board has granted service connection for neurocognitive disorder, finding that the Veteran's symptoms cannot be differentiated from his other service-connected psychiatric disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD rating was denied for periods from June 23, 2016 to August 17, 2017 and from August 17, 2017 to January 10, 2019. The TDIU claim is also remanded.

The Veteran's death was not due to a service-connected disability that had been continuously rated totally disabling for at least ten years immediately preceding his death, or within five years of his discharge from active duty. Therefore, DIC benefits under 38 U.S.C. § 1318 are denied.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for PTSD is denied as there was no indication prior to August 4, 2016 that he intended to file a claim for PTSD.

The Board has granted a TDIU effective February 2, 2012. The Veteran's attorney representative J.F. is eligible to the direct payment of attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in the July 2022 rating decision.

The appeal for service connection for PTSD has been dismissed as the Veteran's claim was granted in a separate rating decision, and there are no remaining issues to be decided.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted a 70 percent rating from June 30, 2021. The left ankle disability and tinea versicolor are denied ratings in excess of the current 10 percent. Bilateral hearing loss does not warrant a compensable rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder, PTSD, and insomnia disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a verified in-service stressor or relationship to service.

The Veteran's mental health disability, characterized as PTSD with mood disorder not otherwise specified, borderline personality disorder and stimulant use disorder, is now rated at a higher level of 50 percent but no higher. The rating reflects the current severity of her symptoms which result in total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 70 percent rating for PTSD and TDIU has been denied. The Board found that the criteria for such ratings were not met prior to September 24, 2020.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 70 percent disability rating, effective from August 9, 2021. The Board found that the severity, frequency, and duration of the Veteran's symptoms more closely approximated those associated with a 70 percent rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at an initial rating of 30 percent, effective July 16, 2019. The Board denied a higher initial rating for PTSD prior to April 7, 2020 and denied a higher rating from April 7, 2020.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an effective date prior to June 26, 2006, and April 13, 2010, for service connection and a TDIU claim due to failure to consider de novo the relevant service department records submitted in July 2017. The AOJ must reconsider these claims based on the new evidence.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to properly address the Veteran's claim for service connection of an acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD. The decision is remanded due to pre-decisional errors and the need for further examination.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD has been dismissed due to the appellant's withdrawal of his appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD, depression, and anxiety are granted as service-connected. The Board found that the in-service stressors were credible and linked to current symptoms.

The Veteran's PTSD increased in severity on May 31, 2018. The effective date for the 100% disability rating is set to December 20, 2017 and later extended to May 31, 2018.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 60 percent for bladder cancer has been denied. The request to readjudicate the claim for service connection of PTSD is granted, but the claim remains denied as there is no diagnosis of PTSD or other acquired psychiatric disorder.