PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for PTSD was denied, and the claim for TDIU prior to December 21, 2013 remains pending. The Board found that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a 70 percent rating for PTSD due to her symptoms being less severe than those required.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including PTSD, diabetes mellitus, and tinea versicolor, have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to October 29, 2018. The Board has remanded the case for consideration of whether TDIU is warranted on an extraschedular basis.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance or due to being housebound was denied as he does not meet the criteria for either benefit.

Effective December 3, 2014, the Veteran is granted a TDIU based solely on his service-connected PTSD.,Effective March 16, 2015, the Veteran is also granted SMC based on his service-connected PTSD and other disabilities rated at least 60% combined.

The Veteran's service connection claim for Bell's Palsy is denied. A 40 percent rating, but no higher, is granted for a lumbar spine disability. The Veteran's cervical spine disorder and hypertension are not rated higher than the current levels. Service connection for PTSD is also denied.

The Veteran's sister, E.W., is accused of forging the Veteran's signature on his VA payments and using them for her own purposes. The Board has ordered further administrative action to determine if fraud occurred and whether civil penalties should be pursued.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD, service connection for low back and knee conditions, and TDIU are being remanded due to the need for additional medical records and examinations.

The Veteran's bilateral knee and ankle disabilities, as well as PTSD, are all granted due to their relationship with active service.,Service connection is established for arthritis of the left knee, right knee, left ankle, and right ankle. Additionally, PTSD related to military sexual trauma (MST) is also granted.

The Veteran's claim of service connection for anxiety has been reopened, and the appeal is granted. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, is remanded.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD due to MST should be remanded because a VA examination was not provided despite the indication of a nexus between the condition and military service.

The Veteran's need for regular aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities has been granted, resulting in special monthly compensation based on aid and attendance.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent from December 11, 2017 to July 1, 2019. The Board also granted TDIU prior to July 1, 2019 and denied earlier effective dates for both the PTSD rating and DEA.

The Veteran's claim for an effective date prior to June 8, 2020, for the grant of a 100 percent disability rating for PTSD was granted.,Additionally, the Veteran's eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) under 38 U.S.C. chapter 35 was also granted an effective date of July 31, 2019.

The Veteran's claim for eligibility to the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) was denied due to a lack of clinical eligibility based on the need for personal care services. The Board finds that proper notice was not provided and remands the case for further action.

The Board denied service connection for the Veteran's psychiatric disorder, right ankle disability, and left ankle disability. The decision found that there was no current diagnosis of PTSD, and the evidence did not support a finding of in-service disease or injury related to the psychiatric disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms have been manifested by ongoing symptoms of depression, anxiety, suspiciousness, chronic sleep impairment, flattened affect, disturbance of motivation and mood, irritability, impaired memory, difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances, and difficulty in establishing and maintaining relationships. The rating agency has granted a 70 percent evaluation for PTSD from October 6, 1980, to December 13, 1995.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD with depressive disorder and substance abuse and alcohol use disorder was granted, but the effective date is denied prior to September 21, 2016.

The Board has remanded the case due to a failure to provide notice of the scheduled hearing. The Veteran's next-of-kin was informed that he is incarcerated and unlikely aware of his hearing.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is granted. The Board also grants the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, other than PTSD, but remands to obtain a VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of his depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically PTSD, is granted as service connected due to the evidence showing a current diagnosis and a causal relationship between his in-service experiences and his current symptoms.