PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2026

The Board has granted eligibility to attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in the October 2024 rating decision for an increased PTSD rating and denied TDIU.

The Veteran's PTSD, OCD, GAD, and unspecified depressive disorder are rated at 70 percent disabling. The appeal for increased ratings is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 70 percent level, reflecting significant occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD and a secondary condition due to pain was denied as there is no evidence of an in-service stressor or direct service connection, and the provided medical opinions did not establish a causal relationship between current symptoms and service.

The Board has granted service connection for right ear hearing loss. The Veteran's claims for acquired psychiatric disorder, seizure disorder, right great toe and right second toe disabilities, and left knee disability are remanded for further development.

The appeals for service connection of thoracolumbar spine disability, dental disability, headache disability (claimed as migraine headaches), and PTSD have been dismissed. The appeal regarding service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed due to the withdrawal of representation.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for TDIU is being remanded due to a duty to assist error by the AOJ in failing to notify him of his right to a pre-decisional hearing. The AOJ will be required to provide notice and, if requested, hold a pre-decisional hearing before remanding the case.

The Veteran requested to withdraw his appeal regarding service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder, and the Board has dismissed the issue.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to July 28, 2019, for a 70 percent rating for PTSD is denied. The Veteran's claim for service connection for obstructive sleep apnea was granted with an effective date of October 21, 2013.

The Board has determined that the ratings for PTSD and TBI residuals should be separated, but remanded to allow for appropriate re-rating. The SMC benefits at the housebound level are also being remanded due to its inextricability with the rating issues.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and Leukemia have prevented him from obtaining or maintaining employment, leading to a grant of TDIU.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, insomnia, unspecified psychosis, arthritis of the lumbar spine, degenerative disc disease, multilevel spinal stenosis, and arthritis of the cervical spine and degenerative disc disease. The diagnoses are linked to in-service physical assaults.

A 70 percent rating for PTSD is granted as of August 11, 2023. A total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU) is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a separate compensable rating for PTSD, finding that the symptoms of PTSD are fully contemplated by the existing 100 percent rating for Major Depressive Disorder with psychotic features.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on multiple conditions have been dismissed. The Board has also remanded several issues related to erectile dysfunction and bowel dysfunction.

For the period prior to October 29, 2021, SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(s) based on housebound status is denied.,For the entire appeal period, SMC under 38 U.S.C. § 1114(l) based on need of regular aid and attendance is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection of a heart condition is dismissed as the Board has already granted it. The appeal for increased rating of PTSD is also dismissed due to the grant of service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development regarding his claims of service connection for PTSD, a rating increase for PTSD, and service connection for pancreatic cancer secondary to diabetes.

The Board dismissed the appeals regarding service connection for sleep apnea, an earlier effective date for PTSD, and a disability evaluation for radiculopathy of all RUE radicular groups. The Veteran's appeal was dismissed due to lack of proper filing or because the issues were moot.