PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating, resulting in denial of an increased rating.,The Veteran's left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy was rated at 10 percent prior to March 1, 2022, and at 20 percent thereafter. The right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy was also rated at 20 percent throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's claim for reducing his PTSD rating from 70% to 30% has been withdrawn by the Veteran.

The Veteran's appeal for rating reductions has been dismissed due to their death.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD due to MST because the evidence did not establish a link between the current condition and service, despite credible testimony of in-service trauma.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, depression, and anxiety, is remanded due to a duty to assist error in failing to verify the Veteran's reported stressors during service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, effective from the date of this decision. A TDIU based on service-connected PTSD is also granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression, is being remanded due to insufficient evidence regarding his in-service stressors. The Board requests additional records from the NPRC and JSRRC to corroborate the Veteran's reports of exposure.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a 70% disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD is rated at 100 percent effective from April 27, 2018. The Board also granted a TDIU effective October 16, 2015.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of service connection for PTSD should be remanded due to inadequate examination and lack of a nexus opinion.

The Veteran's eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) based on permanent and total disability status under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 is granted as of May 8, 2018.

The Veteran's PTSD and bilateral hearing loss were both denied increased ratings. The Board found that the evidence did not support a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD, as his symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating under the General Formula for Mental Disorders. For his bilateral hearing loss, he was rated at 10 percent based on the average decibel levels and speech discrimination scores.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to fulfill its duty to assist in obtaining a medical opinion regarding whether the appellant's behavior at the time of offenses was due to disease, which could potentially raise an insanity defense.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with major depressive disorder is found to be of sufficient severity to preclude him from securing or following substantially gainful employment, consistent with his history, education, skill, and training.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability was denied because the initial 70% rating for PTSD did not constitute an appealable issue, and thus no earlier effective date can be granted.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 100% rating from April 8, 2022 to June 19, 2020 due to total social and occupational impairment.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for PTSD was received on August 5, 2021. The Board denied a request for an earlier effective date as there is no evidence showing that it was factually ascertainable that the disability had increased in the one-year period prior to this date.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and bipolar disorder have resulted in total occupational and social impairment, warranting a 100% disability rating.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has been initially rated at 70 percent, but not higher. The rating is based on occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The appeals for initial PTSD rating and TDIU have been dismissed due to the appellant's death.