PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for depression and PTSD was dismissed because the Notice of Disagreement (VA Form 10182) was filed more than one year after the January 2015 rating decision denying these conditions.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent from April 1, 2020 to October 16, 2020. The effective date for TDIU and DEA benefits has also been granted as of April 1, 2020.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent for the period prior to June 26, 2024. Service connection has been granted for IBS and right hip disability as secondary to service-connected conditions.

The Board has determined that there was a pre-decisional duty to assist error and requires a new medical determination considering all the medical information of record.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims of service connection for a left foot condition, PTSD, and tinnitus cannot be readjudicated due to lack of new and relevant evidence. The claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for lumbar strain is remanded.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for PTSD and sleep apnea have been withdrawn. The appeal concerning service connection for HIV has been remanded due to the need for a VA examination.

The Veteran's PTSD has been rated at 100 percent since the appeal period began, due to total occupational and social impairment caused by symptoms including suicidal ideation, self-harm thoughts, and inability to perform daily activities.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD and depression, and tinnitus are being remanded due to the need for additional development. The VA will conduct a mental health examination to determine if the Veteran has any current psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, and whether these conditions are related to his military service. For the tinnitus claim, the VA will schedule an audiometric evaluation to assess noise exposure in service.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection were denied in the April 2017, December 2017, and April 2021 rating decisions. The Board found that the Veteran did not timely file his appeal requests.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of September 5, 2019 for the grant of a TDIU based on his service-connected PTSD, thoracolumbar spine arthritis, and cervical spine IVDS.

The Board denied the Veteran's requests for earlier effective dates for her service connection decisions, finding that she did not meet the one-year deadline to perfect her claims and failed to provide good cause for missing this deadline.

The Veteran's appeals for an earlier effective date and higher ratings for PTSD, TBI with concussion, and related conditions are being remanded due to a duty to assist error.

The Veteran's PTSD and migraine headaches are granted with a maximum disability rating of 100 percent throughout the appeal period. The Veteran is also entitled to effective dates for special monthly compensation (SMC) benefits based on housebound criteria, and Dependents' Education Assistance (DEA) benefits.

The Veteran's PTSD with persistent depressive disorder is not productive of total occupational and social impairment, so a rating in excess of 70 percent for this condition is denied. The matter of entitlement to TDIU has been raised by the evidence of record and requires further development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a pre-decisional error in not obtaining an examination that addressed all relevant diagnoses, including prior psychiatric conditions. The Veteran is seeking service connection for any mental health condition and was diagnosed with alcohol use disorder and TBI. The VA examiner's opinion on the direct relationship between the acquired psychiatric disabilities and service is inadequate.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol use disorder and insomnia disorder is granted a rating of 70 percent for the period prior to March 4, 2024.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms resulted in a level of impairment that most closely approximated the level associated with a 70 percent rating, but not higher. The appeal for a higher rating was granted.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on aid and attendance is remanded due to the need for an examination that properly assesses his disability picture in relation to his theory of entitlement, specifically focusing on service-connected disabilities alone.

The Veteran's TDIU and DEA benefits were awarded from January 30, 2009. The Board dismissed the appeal for an earlier effective date for both awards as there was no service-connected disability prior to that date.