PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board remands the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder to include PTSD, MDD, and GAD due to the need for a new VA examination and medical opinion addressing the nature and etiology of each diagnosed mental health disorder.

The Board remands the issues of entitlement to a higher disability rating for PTSD and earlier effective dates for TDIU and DEA benefits for additional development, including obtaining SSA records.

The appeal for direct payment of attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in the July 2023 rating decision was denied.

The Board denied a disability rating in excess of 50 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder and unspecified depressive disorder, finding that the evidence did not support occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas. The Board remanded the claim for service connection for traumatic brain injury due to an inadequate medical opinion.

The Board granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD with alcohol use disorder, finding the Veteran's symptoms warranted this higher evaluation.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for PTSD, to include as secondary to a service-connected shoulder disability, due to outstanding treatment records and an inadequate VA examination.

The Board granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities, but denied increased ratings for PTSD and MDD, left ankle strain, and right ankle strain with degenerative arthritis.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric condition, to include PTSD and major depressive disorder, due to the lack of credible evidence supporting an in-service traumatic stressor. The claim for dizziness was remanded for further development.

The Board granted a disability rating of 100 percent for PTSD, resolving all reasonable doubt in the Veteran's favor.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, based on credible evidence of in-service stressors and a link between the Veteran's symptoms and his military service.

The Board granted an earlier effective date of October 30, 2019 for service connection for posttraumatic stress disorder and a rating of 70 percent for the same condition.

The appeal seeking review of a previously denied claim of entitlement to service connection for PTSD is dismissed due to the Veteran not timely filing an appropriate form within one year of the prior denial.

The appeal for direct payment of attorney fees based on past-due benefits awarded in the July 2023 rating decision was denied.

The Board remands the issue of entitlement to service connection for a mental condition, variously diagnosed as anxiety, depression, PTSD, ADD/ADHD, intermittent explosive disorder, chemical dependency, and insomnia, due to a duty-to-assist error that occurred prior to issuance of the August 2023 rating decision on appeal.

The Board remands the claim for a new VA examination to determine if the Veteran's PTSD and TBI symptoms are clearly separable.

The Board granted service connection for PTSD, unspecified mood disorder, and adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood based on a corroborated in-service stressor.

The Board denied service connection for a compensable disability rating for the scar on the left upper thigh, residual shrapnel wounds, and PTSD. However, it granted service connection for alcohol abuse disorder as secondary to PTSD and neuropathy of the feet also as secondary to alcohol abuse disorder.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for an earlier effective date, a higher rating for PTSD, and TDIU.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to schedule a new VA examination.

The Board remanded the claim for service connection for the cause of the veteran's death and DIC benefits because the Regional Office failed to obtain a VA medical opinion to determine whether the veteran's service-connected disabilities caused, contributed to, or aggravated his death from metastatic colon cancer. The Board found a reasonable possibility that a medical opinion would aid in substantiating the claim, particularly regarding whether alcohol use disorder was a risk factor for the colon cancer.