PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2026

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection under Chapter 17 due to a full grant of benefits for PTSD. The appeal is now remanded for further development, including obtaining private treatment records and Social Security Administration (SSA) disability benefit records.

The Veteran's PTSD evaluation was restored to 50% effective December 1, 2025. A new initial evaluation of 70% for PTSD is granted.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's eligibility for PCAFC benefits should be remanded due to an inadequate evaluation of his need for personal care services, which conflicts with other medical evidence and requires further assessment.

The Board has denied an increased rating for the Veteran's obstructive lung disease (emphysema and asthma), currently rated at 10 percent, as it does not meet the criteria for a higher rating under Diagnostic Codes 6602 or 6603.

The Board has found that the eligibility decision for PCAFC benefits is legally inadequate and requires a new medical opinion to address the criteria for eligibility. Additionally, insufficient notice under 38 U.S.C. § 5104 was provided.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and adjustment disorder with depressed mood, is being remanded due to inadequate VA examination. The Board will schedule the Veteran for a new VA examination to determine his diagnosis and etiology of the condition.

The Board granted SMC based on the need for aid and attendance, but the RO's subsequent decisions were found to be invalid due to a claims processing error. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence has been received to warrant readjudication of the claim for service connection for PTSD. The claims for asbestosis and chronic nephritis manifested by albuminuria are also remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as his service-connected disabilities did not meet the schedular criteria for a TDIU, and he is currently employed.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for TDIU, finding that his service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing and following substantially gainful employment.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate medical opinions and a need for further examination.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as moot because the Veteran's character of discharge issue is resolved by a concurrent grant of service connection for PTSD and alcohol use disorder.

The Veteran's claim for PCAFC eligibility is remanded due to a pre-decisional error. The Board finds the Veteran requires personal care services and has been in need of such services for at least six continuous months, but there was insufficient evidence provided by the Centralized Eligibility and Appeals Team (CEAT) regarding his best interest in participating in the PCAFC program.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted with an effective date of July 24, 2023. Claims for other conditions were denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, bipolar disorder II, and alcohol abuse disorder, are not service-connected as they did not onset during service or due to a service-connected condition.,The Veteran's low back pain is not service-connected as it did not onset during service or due to a service-connected condition. The claim for right lower extremity radiculopathy and left lower extremity radiculopathy was denied as there were no secondary service connection issues addressed.,The Veteran's right knee disorder, which includes meniscal tear with joint osteoarthritis and instability, is not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking the condition to service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms did not more closely approximate total occupational and social impairment, resulting in a denial of the request for a disability rating greater than 70 percent.

This decision denies the Veteran's claims for earlier effective dates in several areas. The primary issue is that the Veteran did not appeal or submit new and material evidence within one year of the final rating decisions, making these claims time-barred.,The claim for service connection for Persistent Depressive Disorder (claimed as PTSD) was denied in May 2011, but became final due to lack of appeal. The Veteran's August 3, 2023 supplemental claim seeking this condition resulted in an effective date of August 3, 2023.,The issues regarding the ingrown right toenail with mycosis and hallux valgus with degenerative changes were dismissed as freestanding claims for earlier effective dates because they are not within one year of their respective final rating decisions. The Veteran's June 26, 2023 claim for neoplasm of kidney was granted on July 22, 2022.,The remaining issues regarding the hallux valgus with degenerative changes were dismissed as freestanding claims because they are not within one year of their respective final rating decisions. The Veteran's June 26, 2023 claim for neoplasm of kidney was granted on July 22, 2022.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is granted an effective date of September 22, 2020, with a 50 percent evaluation.

The Board has determined that there was a duty to assist error in the initial decision and has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining an updated medical opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with alcohol dependence resulted in total social and occupational impairment, warranting a 100% disability rating from January 7, 2019.