PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2024

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and adjustment disorder, is etiologically related to his active service. The decision grants service connection for these conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities cause the need for aid and attendance of another person, leading to a grant of SMC based on A&A effective September 28, 2016.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to February 29, 2008 for the award of service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The AOJ will consider any additional evidence when the claim is readjudicated.

The Veteran's service-connected COPD and PTSD have rendered him in need of regular aid and attendance, which has been granted for special monthly compensation (SMC).

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms and impairment were found to approximate a 70 percent rating from July 22, 2019 to November 9, 2021. The effective date for this increased rating is set as of July 22, 2019.

The Veteran's cervical neck strain is currently rated at 20 percent, effective May 2021.,The Veteran's thoracolumbar strain was granted a 20 percent rating from January 4, 2021, to September 30, 2020.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, major depressive and bipolar disorders, has been found to cause total occupational and social impairment since April 18, 2014. As a result, the Board granted an initial 100 percent disability rating for this condition.

The Board denied an increased rating for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher rating due to insufficient impairment in most areas.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have been shown to cause occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas, such as work, school, family relations, judgement, thinking, or mood but not total occupational and social impairment. The appeal is for a higher rating.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including major depressive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder, is granted service connection. However, his personality disorder claim is denied.

Your appeal for service connection for PTSD, anxiety, and depression has been dismissed as you requested withdrawal of your hearing and the appeal.

The appeal is dismissed as the Veteran's claim for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, is moot due to his already having service-connected PTSD with depression.

The Board has remanded the claims due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding the etiology of the Veteran's unspecified depressive disorder and other specified trauma and stressor related disorder with alcohol use disorder. The AOJ is required to obtain supplemental medical opinions addressing these issues.

The Board has remanded the claims of earlier effective dates for TDIU and DEA benefits due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, specifically regarding the Veteran's service-connected disabilities prior to January 10, 2013.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him in need of regular aid and attendance prior to February 23, 2021. Therefore, the claim for an earlier effective date for SMC based on aid and attendance is denied.

Your service connection for PTSD and basic eligibility to Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) have been granted. The case is dismissed as there are no remaining issues of appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD, allergic rhinitis, lumbosacral strain with degenerative arthritis and herniated disc at L4-L5, left lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy, bilateral fallen arches, neurological condition of other systems, and bilateral hearing loss are all service-connected. However, a rating in excess of 30 percent for PTSD is denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to errors in pre-decisional duty to assist and a need for further medical examination. The appellant seeks veteran status, alleging that his character of discharge is not a bar to VA benefits due to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol abuse in remission was granted an increased rating to 70 percent from June 5, 2018, to October 8, 2020. A TDIU was granted from January 1, 2020, to October 8, 2020.

The Veteran's appeal for higher ratings and effective dates was denied. The Board found that the severity, frequency, and duration of his PTSD symptoms did not meet the criteria for a 100% rating, while his right lower extremity radiculopathy warranted a 20% rating from May 23, 2022. Other issues were also denied.