PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board dismissed the appeals for service connection for lower back pain and posttraumatic stress disorder due to procedural errors.

The Board granted an effective date of August 29, 2007, for the award of service connection for PTSD and denied service connection for bilateral hearing loss and an increased rating for irritable bowel syndrome.

The appellant's discharge from active military service is a bar to the receipt of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits, and his claims for service connection for depression and PTSD are denied.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for the service-connected PTSD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms most closely approximated occupational and social impairment with reduced reliability and productivity.

The Board granted an initial rating of 70 percent, but no higher, for PTSD; a 50 percent rating, but no higher, for tension headaches prior to December 13, 2022; and a 60 percent rating, but no higher, for gastroesophageal reflux disease with irritable bowel syndrome. The claim for an initial compensable rating for esophageal condition-granuloma was denied.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, and denied ratings in excess of 10 percent for palmer/plantar hyperkeratosis, a right knee disability, and status post left total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The claim for Pseudofolliculitis Barbae was granted, while the claims for service connection for a bilateral foot condition and compensable ratings for surgical scars were also denied.

The Board granted a 100 percent rating for posttraumatic stress disorder with stimulant use disorder and alcohol use disorder due to total occupational and social impairment.

The Board denied service connection for left ear hearing loss and remanded claims for PTSD, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, memory loss, colon polyps, neck pain, lower back pain, and right lower extremity radiculopathy.

The Board granted an effective date before April 18, 2023, for a 100 percent disability rating for posttraumatic stress disorder with major depressive disorder and alcohol use disorder and an increased rating for the Veteran's right knee disability. The sinusitis claim was denied.

The Board remands the claim for an acquired psychiatric disorder to correct a duty to assist error, as no medical opinion was obtained regarding the Veteran's mental health conditions.

The Veteran is entitled to a total disability evaluation based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) from November 30, 2018, to February 5, 2020, due to his service-connected CAD.

The Board's decision to dismiss the appeal of a May 2020 rating decision that increased the rating for migraine and tension headaches to 50 percent, effective February 27, 2020, and continued a prior 70 percent rating for PTSD and major depressive disorder with TBI is vacated due to a procedural error.

The Board denied an initial disability rating in excess of 70 percent for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as the Veteran's PTSD does not result in total occupational and social impairment.

The Board denied service connection for heart condition, sleep apnea, plantar fasciitis, hernia condition, GERD, PTSD, right ear hearing loss, and left ear hearing loss.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for chronic bronchitis, PTSD, major depressive disorder, alcohol use disorder and traumatic brain injury/post-concussional syndrome, and GERD.

The Board remands the claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, unspecified depressive disorder, unspecified anxiety disorder, and unspecified mood disorder due to incomplete or inadequate medical opinions.

The appeal for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II was dismissed. The appeals for compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for a left ankle disability and service connection for PTSD were denied. The remaining issues were remanded.

The Board granted a 70 percent rating for PTSD effective April 9, 2019, and denied an earlier effective date for uterine polyps and fibroids with uterine bleeding.

The Board denied the claims for a 100 percent rating for PTSD, Dependents' Educational Assistance, and Total Disability Rating Based on Individual Unemployability prior to January 5, 2021.

The Veteran's PTSD with persistent depressive disorder was granted a 100 percent rating, while the low back condition and associated radiculopathy were denied increased ratings. SMC at the housebound rate was also granted.