PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals for sleep apnea and PTSD. The appeal is dismissed.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings for his service-connected left shoulder labral tear including SLAP, right shoulder rotator cuff tear of supraspinatus tendon with tendonosis and partial rotator cuff tear of infraspinus tendon and mild ac joint osteoarthrosis, and PTSD were dismissed due to concurrent review elections.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, hypertension, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) require additional development due to a pre-decisional duty to assist error.

The Board denied the Veteran's request for additional VR&E benefits to pursue a DBA, finding that he was employable within his current degrees and skills without needing an advanced degree.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has determined that a higher rating is not warranted based on his symptoms.

The Veteran's appeal was denied for eligibility to have attorney fees paid due to the assignment of a 30 percent rating for his service-connected bilateral knee conditions in the May 2024 rating decision. The other issues were granted, but not based on past-due benefits.

The Veteran was granted a TDIU effective November 10, 2014 due to service-connected PTSD and chronic renal disease preventing him from maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent effective from June 9, 2021.

The appeal for an earlier effective date for the award of service connection for PTSD with MDD is dismissed as it constitutes a freestanding claim and does not stem from the December 2023 rating decision that awarded service connection.

The Veteran's PTSD was granted an initial rating of 70 percent, effective from April 23, 2013. The disability picture more nearly approximates occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas such as work, school, family relations, judgment, thinking, or mood.

The Board has denied the Veteran's request to revise a previous rating decision that increased his PTSD disability evaluation from 50% to 70%, effective March 30, 2011. The claim was not considered as reopening of a previously denied condition but rather as an increase in evaluation for PTSD.

The Veteran's bilateral lower extremity sciatic peripheral neuropathy and diabetes mellitus type II with erectile dysfunction have been granted increased ratings, while the nonproliferative retinopathy and PTSD remain denied.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating and an earlier effective date for his service-connected PTSD was denied. The Board found that the increase in disability occurred more than one year prior to the receipt of the claim, thus denying any earlier effective dates.

The Veteran's spouse was added to his VA award effective January 31, 2023, due to the grant of service connection for PTSD. However, as the combined disability rating is now at or above 70%, additional dependency compensation has been granted. The appeal is dismissed because there are no longer any issues to be decided.

All claims for service connection related to lumbosacral strain, left knee condition, right knee condition, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, right hand condition, left hand condition, athlete's foot/tinea pedis, right shin splints, left shin splints, erectile dysfunction, alopecia areata (hair loss), and acne have been dismissed due to lack of timely appeal. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis for these conditions.

All claims for service connection related to lumbosacral strain, left knee condition, right knee condition, left ankle condition, right ankle condition, right hand condition, left hand condition, athlete's foot/tinea pedis, right shin splints, left shin splints, erectile dysfunction, alopecia areata (hair loss), and acne have been dismissed due to lack of timely appeal. The Veteran does not have a current diagnosis for these conditions.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain a new VA medical opinion regarding the etiology of the Veteran's acquired psychiatric conditions, including whether they are caused by active service or his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted service connection for the Veteran's erectile dysfunction as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The examiner concluded that the medication prescribed for PTSD caused the Veteran's erectile dysfunction.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his acquired psychiatric disorder (including Major Depressive Disorder and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder) has been denied.,The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for service connection of his acquired psychiatric disorder has also been denied.

An increased disability rating of 70 percent for PTSD is granted.,The effective date for service connection for tinnitus is denied, and the Veteran's claim for bilateral hearing loss is remanded.