PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty-to-assist error regarding the Veteran's in-service stressor and request for additional details from the Veteran.

The Board has found a pre-decisional duty to assist error and remands the case for further action, including obtaining a medical opinion regarding the Veteran's need for supervision or protection based on symptoms or residuals of neurological or other impairment or injury.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric conditions and left shoulder disability render him unable to obtain and maintain gainful employment, meeting the schedular criteria for a TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent disabling as of March 23, 2022. The Board has granted a higher rating for PTSD from March 13, 2019.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and service connection are remanded due to the need for additional evidence in several areas.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating of 10 percent for service-connected functional chronic constipation is granted. The claims for a higher rating for PTSD and tension headaches, as well as the request to reopen the right shoulder pain claim are denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to issues regarding the assignment of a rating and whether separate ratings should be assigned for PTSD and trauma and stressor related disorder caused by a toxic psychotic episode. The Veteran's mental health conditions are being reviewed further.

The Veteran's PTSD and tinnitus are currently rated at the maximum schedular ratings, with no further increase granted. The appeal for higher ratings is denied.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD was dismissed because the Notice of Disagreement was filed more than one year after the November 2013 decision denying the claim.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to procedural errors, and will consider new evidence in determining if there is a current diagnosis of PTSD or if hepatitis C was incurred during active duty.

The Board denied eligibility for benefits under the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) due to insufficient evidence showing that the Veteran requires personal care services for a minimum of six continuous months.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection of posttraumatic stress disorder was dismissed due to their death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's PTSD with substance use disorder is rated at 100 percent, effective from June 12, 2019. The issue of TDIU based on PTSD is dismissed as moot due to the already assigned 100 percent rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected psychiatric, lumbar spine, cervical spine, and right shoulder disabilities make it impossible for him to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation.

The Veteran's initial increased rating claims for tinnitus, sleep apnea, and PTSD have been denied. The maximum schedular ratings for these conditions are already assigned.,For tinnitus, the Veteran is currently rated at 10% and a higher extraschedular rating is not available due to the severity of his symptoms being adequately contemplated by the current rating criteria.,For sleep apnea, there is no evidence of chronic respiratory failure with carbon dioxide retention or cor pulmonale requiring tracheostomy. Therefore, an initial increased rating is denied.,For PTSD, the Veteran's condition has been rated at 50% since July 23, 2020 and 70% from May 1, 2024 onwards. The claim for a higher rating remains denied.

The Board has determined that there was a duty to assist error and remanded the case for further development. The Veteran's claim of service connection for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) secondary to PTSD, with obesity as an intermediate step, is now pending.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher disability rating for PTSD with depressive disorder has been dismissed due to the Veteran's passing during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for an earlier effective date for service connection for PTSD and TDIU due to the need for a retrospective medical opinion regarding the Veteran's mental health diagnoses during service.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, due to the lack of credible evidence supporting a verified in-service stressor event.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD due to MST, finding that the Veteran's diagnosis is related to his military service and supported by competent medical evidence.