PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's service connection for PTSD, adjustment disorder, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorder has been granted. His hearing loss remains at a 10% rating.

The Board has remanded the claims for an earlier effective date due to discrepancies in the Veteran's last day of full-time employment. The AOJ is required to verify this information and determine the appropriate effective dates.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD should be remanded due to a duty-to-assist error and need for an examination.

The Veteran's PTSD claim is denied as his disability does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,The Veteran's asthma and TBI claims are remanded due to inadequate medical opinions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, as there is no current disability and the record does not contain a recent diagnosis of such prior to his filing of a claim.

The Veteran's initial rating of 30 percent for PTSD was granted in July 2013. The AOJ denied the request for a higher evaluation, but did not address the CUE motion filed by the Veteran. The Board finds this error and remands the case to the AOJ for proper adjudication.

An earlier effective date of December 6, 2016, but no earlier, for the grant of service connection for PTSD is granted. The issue of entitlement to service connection for a left leg condition is dismissed.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD, sleep apnea, TBI, tinnitus, allergic rhinitis, a skin condition, lumbosacral strain, left lower extremity radiculopathy, right lower extremity radiculopathy, left knee patellar instability, and bilateral shin splints are remanded due to duty-to-assist errors.

The Veteran's claims for tinnitus, bilateral hearing loss, costochondritis, PTSD, and a right knee disability were denied as there was no earlier effective date established.,Entitlement to service connection for these conditions is not granted.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed because the Notice of Disagreement (NOD) was not timely filed within one year of the rating decisions, and there is no basis for waiving this rule.

The Veteran's PTSD disability rating is denied as the severity, frequency, and duration of his symptoms do not meet the criteria for a higher disability rating.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for various conditions, including bilateral flat feet, plantar fasciitis and hallux valgus, hearing loss, psychiatric disabilities, nerve damage, eye disability, and IBS. The decision found that there was no evidence of permanent aggravation of preexisting conditions during service.

The Board granted service connection for varicose veins, coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction status post coronary artery bypass graft, non-painful chest scar, iron deficiency anemia status post internal bleeding, and PTSD. The effective dates were set based on the date of receipt of claims or other relevant information.

The Veteran's disability rating for residuals of TBI was reduced from 40% to zero percent, which the Board found improper and restored the original 40% rating. The Veteran also sought SMC based on need for aid and attendance due to his service-connected disabilities, but the Board denied this claim.

The Veteran's application for PCAFC is remanded due to the need for a more detailed and thoroughly explained medical opinion regarding his personal care needs, supervision requirements, and PTSD impairment.

The Veteran's appeal regarding his eligibility for the Program for Comprehensive Assistance for Caregivers (PCAFC) is being remanded due to inadequate notice and compliance with regulatory requirements. The Board will adjudicate whether he meets criteria for personal care services, best interests of participation, and other pertinent criteria.

The Veteran's major depressive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder have been granted a 70 percent rating, effective December 28, 2023. The VA has also remanded the issues of increased ratings for lumbosacral strain and scoliosis, as well as TDIU.

The Board has determined that the AOJ made a pre-decisional error by failing to provide proper notice and associate relevant PCAFC records with the claims file. The claim is being remanded for these purposes.

The Board denied an increased rating for the Veteran's psychiatric disability, finding that her symptoms did not warrant a higher rating than 70 percent. The decision also noted that she maintained relationships and was oriented throughout the appeal period.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol use disorder resulted in occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity, warranting a 70 percent initial evaluation. The Board found that the symptoms did not meet criteria for a higher rating or total disability due to their severity.