PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2026

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and a chronic headache disorder due to pre-decisional duty to assist errors. The Veteran's claim for diabetes mellitus, type II remains denied.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for his service-connected PTSD to include alcohol use disorder is remanded due to pre-decisional duty-to-assist errors regarding private treatment records.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including depressive disorder, GAD, and PTSD, as well as his claim regarding the reduction of his rating for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine with IVDS are all remanded due to procedural errors. The Board must determine whether the Veteran's discharge from December 1981 to November 1983 is a bar to VA benefits and reconsider his service connection claims.

The Veteran's attorney representative was granted eligibility to attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in a March 2025 rating decision, which included an increased rating for PTSD and lumbosacral strain.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date prior to April 22, 2022 for the assignment of a 70 percent rating for PTSD is denied. The Board found that it was not factually ascertainable that the Veteran's PTSD increased in severity so as to more nearly approximate occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas warranting a 70 percent rating prior April 22, 2022.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD was dismissed due to his death during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has remanded the case due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding the VA examination and medical opinion provided in January 2021. The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is being reviewed again with additional evidence considered.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been remanded due to the submission of new and relevant evidence. The issues include anxiety, PTSD, migraines, right shoulder disability, and back pain.

The Board has determined that the evidence is in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was caused or aggravated by his service-connected sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and PTSD. Therefore, service connection for OSA is granted.

The Board has remanded the case due to errors in obtaining service treatment records and verifying the Veteran's periods of active duty for training (ADT) and inactive duty for training (IDT). The claim will be reconsidered with these issues addressed.

The Board has found a pre-decisional duty to assist error and remands the case for a VA examination to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder(s).

The Board has granted an initial 100 percent disability rating for PTSD, denied TDIU, and granted SMC at the statutory housebound rate.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to November 1, 2021, for the grant of total disability due to individual unemployability (TDIU) is denied. The Board found that there was no pending claim for TDIU or increased rating at the time of his application on November 2, 2021.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date of March 28, 2024, for the grant of a 100 percent disability rating for service-connected PTSD with MDD and entitlement to special monthly compensation based on housebound criteria was granted. The effective date is set at February 10, 2025.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 70 percent disability rating, effective from the date of the May 2021 decision.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD as there is no current diagnosis of a psychiatric condition, including PTSD, in accordance with the DSM-5.

The Board has determined that new and relevant evidence supports the reopening of the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and major depressive disorder. The evidence, including lay statements from fellow servicemembers and family members, corroborates the Veteran's reported in-service trauma. As such, the Board grants service connection for these conditions.

The appeal for an earlier effective date prior to October 30, 2019, for the award of service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder with major depressive disorder is dismissed due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has remanded four issues related to the Veteran's service-connected PTSD and herniated disc of the lumbar spine. The claims for increased ratings and effective date are being returned to the AOJ for further action, including providing an informal conference.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as secondary to military sexual trauma (MST) that occurred during service.