PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for tinnitus, PTSD, right foot disability, left foot disability, right knee disability, left knee disability, right shoulder disability, and low back disability. The evidence did not establish a nexus between these conditions and active service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not preclude her from securing and following a substantially gainful occupation, thus the TDIU claim is denied.

The appeal to change the effective date for a 70% disability rating for PTSD from June 23, 2021, to July 12, 2021, is dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU due to service-connected PTSD was granted with an effective date of November 22, 2021. The Veteran appealed for an earlier effective date and the Board has decided that additional evidence should be considered by the RO.

The Veteran's appeal for an increased disability rating in excess of 70 percent for her psychiatric conditions (PTSD, persistent depressive disorder with intermittent major depressive episodes, and alcohol use disorder) has been denied. The Board found that the Veteran's symptoms did not more closely approximate total occupational and social impairment at any time during the appeal period. Her TDIU claim was granted.

The Veteran's claims for PTSD and tension headaches were denied effective dates earlier than September 24, 2021 because the earliest date of claim was September 24, 2021, which is more than one year after the prior final decisions.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for an earlier effective date of July 14, 2017 for his PTSD service connection. The AOJ assigned the earliest possible effective date based on the receipt of a supplemental claim on September 29, 2020.

The Veteran's PTSD has worsened, leading to a rating of 70 percent effective January 2, 2023. The decision is based on his symptoms including difficulty adapting to stressful circumstances and an inability to establish effective relationships.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, and the Board denied a higher rating as her symptoms do not meet the criteria for total occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for degenerative disc disease of the lumbosacral spine, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are remanded due to a pre-decisional failure of the duty to assist based on inadequate examinations.

The Board has granted service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and bipolar II disorder, finding that the evidence is in relative equipoise regarding the relationship to active-duty service.

The Veteran's tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss claims have been denied. The back condition and PTSD claims are remanded for further evaluation.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD is being remanded due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error. The Board will schedule the Veteran for an adequate VA examination and provide an opinion regarding the nature and etiology of his PTSD.

The Veteran has withdrawn her appeal for fibromyalgia and PTSD, thus the issues are dismissed.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and unspecified depressive disorder, is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error related to personal assault claims. The AOJ must provide the required specialized notice regarding personal trauma under 38 C.F.R. § 3.304(f)(5) and afford the Veteran an opportunity to respond.

The Veteran's claim for a 100% evaluation for PTSD and TBI with persistent depressive disorder, alcohol use disorder, mild neurocognitive disorder, and cannabis use disorder is granted effective November 27, 2013. SMC benefits at the 's' rate based on housebound status are also granted from this date.

The Veteran's initial rating in excess of 50 percent for unspecified anxiety disorder and service connection for PTSD were denied. The appeal is based on the severity, frequency, and duration of psychiatric symptoms.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to address the causal nexus between the Veteran's diagnosed PTSD and his conceded in-service stressor, as no such opinion was provided by the VA examiner.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD with MDD, finding that the claim was not continuously pursued and thus the proper effective date is January 5, 2022.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date of September 24, 2020, for the grant of service connection for PTSD was granted. The decision is based on new evidence submitted in May 2021 that corroborated the Veteran's claimed in-service stressors.