PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board granted service connection for bilateral hearing loss disability and PTSD with schizoaffective disorder, but denied service connection for depression and bipolar disorder. The effective date for the awards of service connection was set to November 6, 2017.

The Board granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, based on the Veteran's combat-related stressors during his service aboard the USS Newport News.

The appeal for service connection for PTSD and left knee arthritis was dismissed due to untimely filing of the notice of disagreement.

The Board denied an initial rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD with unspecified depressive disorder but granted a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) beginning January 4, 2019.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 50% rating from September 27, 2021 to March 8, 2023; however, ratings in excess of 50% and 70% were denied. The claims for earlier effective dates for service connection for coronary artery disease, left lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and right lower extremity diabetic peripheral neuropathy were also denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for a 70 percent evaluation of his service-connected PTSD, as there was no evidence to support an increase in severity prior to November 22, 2021.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, asthma, stomach pains, a heart disability secondary to PTSD, and non-compensable ratings for allergic rhinitis and bilateral hearing loss.

The Veteran was granted a 50 percent rating for PTSD from March 29, 2022, to December 26, 2022, but the rating was denied thereafter.

The Board granted the restoration of a 70 percent rating for PTSD, effective September 30, 2020, as the evidence did not show improvement in this disability that would be maintained under ordinary conditions of life and work.

The Veteran was granted a 70 percent disability rating for his service-connected PTSD and major depressive disorder from January 24, 2013 to September 6, 2016, but an increased rating of more than 100 percent is not available as a matter of law.

The Board remands the claims for an increased rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, an initial increased rating in excess of 50 percent for migraine headaches, and an increased rating in excess of 10 percent for right ankle condition due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted an initial rating of 50 percent, and a TDIU was granted effective January 31, 2024.

The Board denied service connection for left foot, cervical spine, left shoulder, and right hip conditions, as well as a higher rating for tinnitus. The claims for service connection for right knee strain, lower back condition, right ankle sprain, right foot post-fracture pain, and PTSD were remanded.

The Board denied service connection for a psychiatric disability, to include PTSD, due to the lack of evidence showing a current diagnosis and an in-service stressor. The claim was also remanded for further development regarding macular degeneration.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted a 70 percent rating throughout the period on appeal due to symptoms that caused occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Board remands the claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, an acquired psychological condition, and a vision condition due to incomplete evidence regarding the Veteran's service records.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD, granted a 20 percent rating for prostate cancer, and denied ratings in excess of 10 percent for bilateral hearing loss. The Board also denied service connection for generalized anxiety disorder, other specified depressive disorder, gout, and tremors.

The Board granted an increased initial disability rating of 50 percent for service-connected PTSD, effective June 1, 2020.

The Board granted a total disability evaluation due to individual unemployability (TDIU) for the period from July 18, 2019, through October 20, 2020, and an effective date of July 18, 2019, but not earlier, for the grant of eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance Under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, as there was no evidence of a nexus to the Veteran's active service.