PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2026

The Veteran's appeals for service connection for PTSD and plantar fasciitis were dismissed because the appellant withdrew his appeals prior to a decision being made.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for service connection of PTSD, leading to the dismissal of this case.

The Board has determined that there was a duty to assist error in the October 2024 and November 2024 decisions, and thus remanded these claims for further development.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, MDD, and panic disorder. The claims for allergic rhinitis and COPD are being remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for acquired psychiatric disorder, bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, cervical stenosis, lumbar spine, lymphedema, and central retinal vein occlusion with macular edema with pseudophakia of the right eye are all granted. The decision is based on direct evidence of a nexus between each condition and service.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms did not meet the criteria for a rating in excess of 70 percent.,Service connection was granted for bilateral pes planus on an aggravation of pre-service disability.,Service connection was granted for tinnitus.,Service connection was denied for left ankle, right ankle, and right knee disabilities.,Service connection was denied for left upper extremity and right upper extremity neuropathy.,The Veteran's pancreatitis claim is remanded.,Service connection was denied for left knee disability, left lower extremity neuropathy, and right lower extremity neuropathy.

The Board dismissed the appeal due to an improper concurrent election, meaning that a request for higher-level review and a direct board appeal were submitted concurrently. The Veteran's appeal was dismissed as it did not meet jurisdictional requirements.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased rating for his service-connected PTSD with anxiety and major depression has been dismissed as the Veteran withdrew his appeal through his authorized representative.

The Veteran's appeal seeking an effective date of May 11, 2017 for the grant of a 100 percent rating for PTSD, major depressive disorder, alcohol use disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder is dismissed as moot. The appeal also seeks basic eligibility to dependents' educational assistance based on permanent and total disability status, which is also dismissed.

The Board has granted an effective date of November 12, 2015 for the award of service connection for a psychiatric disability (PTSD and major depressive disorder), finding that the presumption of regularity was rebutted due to delays in mailing decisions.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 30 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating.,The Veteran also sought SMC based on need for regular aid and attendance or housebound status. The Board found that he did not meet the criteria for either.

The Veteran withdrew his appeals for service connection for anxiety and PTSD, so the Board has dismissed these issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error, requiring new VA medical examinations.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection and rating of tinnitus due to untimely Notice of Disagreement (NOD).

The Veteran's TDIU claim was denied as the July 2020 rating decision implicitly addressed the issue of unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, but did not explicitly grant a TDIU.

The Veteran's claim for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD to include depressive disorder and generalized anxiety is denied. The claims for increased ratings for degenerative arthritis of the lumbar spine, left knee patellofemoral pain syndrome with tendonitis/tendinosis, unspecified headaches, and allergic rhinitis are granted. Service connection for chronic sinusitis and chronic fatigue syndrome is denied.

The Veteran's right little finger disability is rated noncompensable, as the maximum rating available under the applicable diagnostic code does not account for his symptoms.,For PTSD, alcohol use disorder, circadian rhythm sleep disorder, shift work type with major depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder, the Veteran is granted a 100 percent rating based on total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with alcohol use disorder and cannabis use disorder rendered him unable to obtain and maintain gainful employment for the period of April 7, 2014 to June 11, 2020. Basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance was established beginning on April 7, 2014.