PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2024

The Board denied a compensable disability rating for right ear hearing loss and an increased disability rating for PTSD from June 6, 2022, to February 7, 2024.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of November 3, 2010, for the award of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of PTSD with depression and anxiety, finding no evidence of a prior claim or entitlement to service connection before October 13, 2021.

The Board denied service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) but granted service connection for other specified trauma and stressor-related disorder.

The Board granted an effective date of February 11, 2019, for the award of service connection for PTSD.

The Appellant's claim for accrued benefits is dismissed because she did not identify a specific rating decision with which she disagreed.

The Veteran's appeals for higher ratings for bilateral hearing loss, right and left foot hallux valgus, gynecomastia, and PTSD from March 4, 2021 to December 6, 2022 were denied. The evidence did not meet the criteria for a higher rating in any of these cases.,The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss was rated at zero percent (noncompensable) as there was no exceptional pattern of hearing impairment and his complaints were considered in the assigned noncompensable rating.,For right and left foot hallux valgus, the evidence did not show symptoms or functional impairment more nearly approximating unilateral hallux valgus equivalent to amputation of great toe or unilateral hallux valgus operated with resection of metatarsal head. The Veteran's bilateral pes planus disability already compensated for some of his foot pain and soreness.,For gynecomastia, the evidence did not show either breast underwent mastectomy or wide local excision with significant alteration of size or form. Therefore, a higher rating was denied.,PTSD from March 4, 2021 to December 6, 2022 was rated at 70 percent (staged) and the Veteran did not meet criteria for a higher rating in this period.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal regarding the increased rating for PTSD.

The appeals regarding effective dates for DEA and TDIU benefits, as well as a higher disability rating for PTSD, were dismissed due to the failure to file a timely Notice of Disagreement.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent prior to April 4, 2023, resolving all doubts in his favor.

The Board found that the grants of service connection for TBI to include PTSD and vertigo, as well as post traumatic headaches (migraines), were clearly and unmistakably erroneous due to the Veteran's willful misconduct during military service. The appeal is denied.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, kidney disability, headache disability, acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), and obstructive sleep apnea due to in-service exposure to toxic chemicals. The AOJ is directed to verify the Veteran's in-service exposure to toxic chemicals at Jacksonville and Davisville.

The Veteran's PTSD and related conditions are rated at 70 percent prior to September 16, 2019, with a TDIU granted for the same period.

The Veteran's PTSD with TBI was rated at 70 percent from October 22, 2011, to July 14, 2012. The rating is granted for a higher rating of 100 percent since July 14, 2012.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and migraine headaches have resulted in a disability rating of 70 percent from April 29, 2013 through February 14, 2022.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD did not prevent him from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation prior to February 24, 2015.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional private treatment records from TBI C.E. related to his acquired psychiatric disability, specifically post-traumatic stress disorder, adjustment disorder with depression, and cognitive disorder not otherwise specified.

The Veteran's emergency medical treatment for PTSD was approved as VA facilities were not feasibly available and the treatment was for a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric condition, including PTSD and/or depressive disorder, is being remanded due to a duty to assist error. The Board will consider the evidence of record at the time of the June 2022 rating decision on appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 70 percent rating, effective February 24, 2021. The claim for TDIU was denied.