PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection and compensation under Section 1151 for an acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that there was no evidence of a current disability related to service or VA treatment.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, Persistent Depressive Disorder, Alcohol Use Disorder in Remission, and Cannabis Use Disorder with Residuals of TBI was granted effective September 22, 2009. The Board found no evidence of a formal or informal claim prior to this date.

The appeal for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is dismissed as the Veteran was granted service connection effective from the date of his claim.,Service connection for bilateral tinnitus is denied.

The Board has denied service connection for a left shoulder disability and remanded the claims of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, bilateral hand arthralgia, nose disability (manifesting in nosebleeds), and compensation under 38 U.S.C. § 1151 for lumbosacral strain due to insufficient evidence.

The Veteran was awarded service connection for PTSD and a 70% rating, effective May 26, 2023. The Appellant is eligible for direct payment of fees based on past-due benefits awarded to the Veteran.

The Veteran's PTSD is currently rated at 30 percent, and the Board has determined that this rating is not sufficient to reflect his current level of impairment.

The Veteran's PTSD symptoms, including severe anxiety, obsessional rituals, irritability, excessive alcohol use, isolation, and avoidance, have resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas. The Board has granted a 70 percent disability rating for the period from October 14, 2016, to April 14, 2021.

The Veteran's VR&E services were denied as his reason for discontinuance of the program has not been removed, despite showing progress in therapy and treatment. The Board found that he did not meet the criteria to set aside the previous closure.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD with depressive disorder due to chronic pain syndrome with major depressive features was granted, effective from February 9, 1995.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD has substantially impaired his ability to secure and maintain substantially gainful employment, leading the Board to grant a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) effective July 17, 2012.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and major depressive disorder, is granted as service-connected. The claim for a rating in excess of 10 percent for traumatic brain injury is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for lumbar spine degenerative disc disease and dismissed the appeal for an increased rating for posttraumatic stress disorder.

The Veteran's bilateral plantar fasciitis and pes planus, hypertension, maxillary sinusitis, tension headaches, and PTSD with adjustment disorder with mixed anxiety and depressed mood are all granted. The left ankle condition is remanded for further review.

The Board has granted a 50 percent rating for the Veteran's service-connected right and left ankle disabilities, effective from February 14, 2020. The claims of entitlement to increased ratings for his right and left knee disabilities, as well as his PTSD claim, have been dismissed due to withdrawal by the Veteran.

The Board has found the May 2020 rating decision that addressed entitlement to service connection for PTSD/depression, ichthyosis, hearing loss, left and right ankle conditions, and a right foot condition to be the one on appeal. The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss claim is denied as there is no evidence of chronic sensorineural hearing loss within the presumptive period or continuity of symptomatology. The acquired psychiatric disorder claim requires an examination for service connection due to incomplete medical history provided by the VA examiner. The ichthyosis claim requires a corrected opinion based on accurate STRs showing groin rash treatment in service.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to a duty to assist error, specifically regarding the etiology of the Veteran's cause of death. The claim will be reconsidered with an addendum medical opinion.

The Veteran's eligibility for enrollment in the VA Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers (PCAFC) is remanded due to a lack of clinical evidence supporting his need for personal care services, supervision or instruction. The Board finds that the medical opinion upon which the denial was based is legally inadequate and requires further review.

The appeal for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD is dismissed. Service connection for a chronic right foot disorder and a respiratory disorder are denied.

The Board has restored the Veteran's PTSD rating to 70% effective July 1, 2020, finding that the reduction was not proper due to continued occupational and social impairment.

The Veteran is granted an effective date of March 31, 2022 for a 70 percent evaluation assigned for his service-connected PTSD.