PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has restored the Veteran's disability rating for PTSD and TBI residuals from 70% to 70%, effective October 28, 2020. The reduction was improper due to a lack of evidence demonstrating improvement in the Veteran's condition.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms were productive of social and occupational impairment with deficiencies in most areas as early as August 2, 2023. The Board granted an effective date of August 2, 2023 for the award of a 70% disability rating for PTSD.

The Veteran's appeal for increased ratings and service connection claims have been denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating for PTSD, denied service connection for CFS, mast cell activation syndrome, and sleep apnea as secondary to PTSD, and remanded TDIU.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has prevented him from securing and maintaining gainful employment throughout the appeal period, leading to a grant of TDIU. The issue of service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome was withdrawn by the appellant.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA claims are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors prior to the rating decision on review. The effective date for TDIU is set at January 31, 2021, based on the last day of employment. However, the RO needs to obtain SSA records regarding earnings from July 2020 to January 31, 2021, to determine if the Veteran's employment was marginal.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, cervical spine disability, and seizure disorder, render him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation. Therefore, the Board has granted his TDIU application.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD and mood disorders, effective from February 7, 2012. The Veteran's claim was ongoing until the RO granted service connection for PTSD in July 2020.

The Veteran's appeal regarding retroactive payments for the period from March 19, 2020, through May 7, 2020, was dismissed as there is no live case or controversy. The earlier effective date of January 21, 2019, for PTSD service connection has been granted.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including anxiety, depression, PTSD, a back condition, hair loss, a right wrist condition, scars, tinnitus, kidney problems, erectile dysfunction, and left knee condition have been dismissed as the Veteran did not file timely notices of disagreement.

The Veteran's PTSD has been granted a 50 percent disability rating, effective as of the date of the decision.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for an effective date prior to June 3, 2020 for the grants of service connection for PTSD and tinnitus. The decision states that VA did not receive an ITF in September 2019 as claimed by the Veteran or her representative, and thus no earlier effective date can be granted.

The Board has dismissed the appeal as a prohibited concurrent election, due to the Veteran's simultaneous filing of an HLR Request and a VA Form 10182 Appeal.

The Veteran's appeals for an increased rating for PTSD and entitlement to TDIU have been dismissed due to the appellant's withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for a 70 percent rating for PTSD was denied as there is no evidence that his symptoms increased in the year prior to his July 2, 2018 claim.

The Veteran's appeal for PTSD was dismissed due to their passing away during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran is granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to her service-connected PTSD, major depressive disorder, and bilateral TMJ associated with PTSD.

The Board has determined that there are duty-to-assist errors in the rating decisions and remands the claims for an initial rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD with PDD and ADHD, TDIU and SMC, and service connection for COPD to include as secondary to latent tuberculosis.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to her service-connected disabilities, finding that the evidence did not demonstrate she was unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's appeals for increased rating and earlier effective date for PTSD have been dismissed due to her withdrawal of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error prior to the March 2025 rating decision. The Veteran should be provided updated notice and asked to complete VA Form 21-8940, Veteran's Application for Increased Compensation Based on Unemployability.