PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2026

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to September 21, 2023, for the grant of service connection for Sleep Apnea (OSA) is denied. The Board found that the date of entitlement arose predates the date of claim and thus, no earlier effective date can be assigned.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted with a rating of 70 percent, effective March 28, 2024. The symptoms associated with the condition cause occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran's PTSD with TBI is granted an increased rating of 70 percent, but no higher. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms caused a level of impairment required for a disability rating of 70 percent.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether PTSD caused or aggravated obesity, which in turn may have contributed to OSA. The Veteran's claim for service connection for OSA as secondary to PTSD is being returned to the AOJ for further review.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to clarify the effective date for the grant of service connection for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). The current record is unclear on this information, which is necessary to adjudicate the earlier effective date issue.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate examination reports and duty-to-assist errors.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for PTSD, GERD, Hypertension, and Erectile Dysfunction due to insufficient evidence regarding the claimed in-service stressor. The AOJ is instructed to attempt verification of the Veteran's reported stressor involving a motor vehicle collision resulting in a soldier's death.

The Board found that the reduction in rating from 70 percent to 50 percent for post-traumatic stress disorder with unspecified neurocognitive disorder and alcohol use disorder was not proper, and restored the prior 70 percent rating.

The Veteran's claim for service connection and initial ratings for various conditions, including PTSD with major depressive disorder, cervical strain, costochondritis, right ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, and left ankle lateral collateral ligament sprain, was denied. The decision is based on the lack of relevant official service department records being associated with the claims file at the time of the initial decision.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not render him unable to care for his daily personal needs without assistance from others or unable to protect himself from the hazards and dangers of daily living on a regular basis.

The Veteran's tension headaches are rated at the maximum schedular rating of 50 percent. The PTSD and IBS ratings remain denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation, and therefore the TDIU is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for irritable bowel syndrome was dismissed. The Board granted the Veteran a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to his service-connected PTSD and lumbar spine degenerative joint disease with disc herniation.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD because there was no credible supporting evidence to corroborate his claimed in-service stressors, which are necessary to establish service connection.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD due to Military Sexual Trauma, finding that the Veteran's current symptoms are linked to her in-service MST.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for PTSD and depressive disorder, finding that there was no verified in-service stressor for PTSD and that his currently diagnosed depressive disorder is not related to his military service.

The Board previously denied a TDIU prior to January 1, 2017. The case is being remanded again due to the failure of the RO to obtain SSA earnings reports for the relevant period.

The Board denied the claim for an earlier effective date for service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, finding that the claim was not received prior to August 25, 2023.

The Veteran's request for an extension of time to file a Board Appeal request regarding the March 19, 2024 rating decision denying an increased rating for PTSD was denied. The appeal is dismissed as untimely.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The Board will consider whether there is a nexus between the Veteran's current disabilities and his military service.