PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for his service-connected psychiatric disability is remanded due to the possibility of an increase in severity. Additional development, including obtaining VA and non-VA treatment records, is required.

The Veteran's compensation benefits were improperly reduced beginning August 8, 2014, due to incarceration. The reduction should have started on June 22, 2015, after the conviction for a felony. The COLA issued in December 2018 was proper and effective from December 1, 2018.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate compliance with prior remand directives and the need for updated VA examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, finding that there is no current diagnosis of a mental health disorder, including PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is found to have substantially contributed to his suicide, thus granting service connection for the cause of death and burial benefits.

The Veteran's TDIU, SMC at the housebound rate, and DEA benefits were granted effective from February 21, 2017. The Board denied earlier effective dates for these benefits.,There is no evidence of a permanent total service-connected disability prior to February 21, 2017, which would have allowed for SMC at the housebound rate.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his posttraumatic stress disorder with major depression is granted prior to September 1, 2020. However, the claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent from September 1, 2020, forward is denied.

The Veteran's PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder, insomnia disorder, mild neurocognitive disorder, and traumatic brain injury are rated at 70 percent prior to February 26, 2021, and in excess of 70 percent thereafter. Headaches are rated at 50 percent.

The Board has remanded the case due to uncertainty about whether the Veteran's current psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, are related to his in-service stressor of physical assault by a drill instructor.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to February 16, 2021.

The Board has determined that the Veteran does not have a diagnosis of PTSD at any time during the appeal period, and therefore service connection for PTSD is denied.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, diagnosed as PTSD and depressive disorder, is rated at 70 percent. The case is remanded for further evaluation of his service-connected condition and for consideration of a TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal for additional retroactive compensation payments as a result of an increased rating from 30 percent to 50 percent for PTSD disability, effective May 27, 2010 is denied. The VA correctly calculated the retroactive payment amount and did not award full retroactive compensation at the new combined 80 percent rate due to prior payments.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service-connected due to the confirmed in-service stressors and fear of hostile military or terrorist activity during her deployments.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent effective November 22, 2016. Effective May 10, 2023, the rating for PTSD was increased to 70 percent.

The Veteran's appeal for an initial compensable rating for corneal scarring was withdrawn. The left ankle fracture residuals, status-post surgery, are rated at 10 percent.,PTSD is currently rated at 70 percent and the Veteran is granted a TDIU as of June 21, 2011.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding the causes of death and whether the Veteran's pancreatic cancer was related to his service. The AOJ is instructed to obtain a VA medical opinion on these issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to insufficient medical opinions and need for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and scheduling examinations.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for a psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is dismissed as the claim has been mooted by an April 2023 rating decision that granted service connection for depressive disorder due to general medical condition with depressive/anxious features.,Service connection for residuals of a nose injury, to include a deviated septum, is denied because there is no persuasive evidence of current disability or symptoms related to the claimed conditions.

The Veteran's appeal for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) due to service-connected disabilities has been denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet his burden of establishing an inability to obtain and maintain substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected conditions.