PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings are remanded due to the need for updated VA treatment records and examinations.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for service connection of various conditions due to the Veteran's death.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for a new VA examination and updated treatment records.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on aid and attendance or housebound status is denied because his service-connected PTSD does not render him so helpless as to need regular aid and attendance, and he has not been found permanently housebound by reason of service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD and unspecified anxiety disorder, has been granted. The decision is based on direct evidence linking the disorders to his military service in Iraq.

The Board denied a rating in excess of 50 percent for PTSD prior to March 10, 2019, finding that the Veteran's symptoms did not meet the criteria for a higher rating.

The Veteran's traumatic brain injury is granted service connection.,The Veteran's PTSD is granted service connection based on in-service fear of hostile military activity.,Service connection for obstructive sleep apnea is denied as the evidence does not establish a link to service or PTSD.,Service connection for left testicle varicocele is granted, with the condition dating back to active duty.

The Board denied an earlier effective date for the grant of a 70 percent rating for PTSD, finding that it was not factually ascertainable that the Veteran's PTSD increased in severity to warrant such a rating within one year prior to September 15, 2020.

The Board dismissed the appeal as it lacked jurisdiction to review the merits of an earlier effective date for PTSD service connection.

The Board has referred the issues of service connection for various disabilities to the AOJ for adjudication. The AOJ must address these intertwined claims before determining whether the appellant can be considered a veteran.

The Veteran's PTSD with alcohol use disorder and unspecified depressive disorder is rated at a 50 percent prior to August 6, 2013 and a 70 percent from July 20, 2017 to December 14, 2017. The appeal for higher ratings is denied.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim of service connection for his claimed acquired psychiatric disorder, finding that the evidence did not support a finding that his disorders were incurred or aggravated during active duty.

The Veteran was granted an initial 70 percent evaluation for PTSD prior to May 8, 2020. The rating is subject to the laws and regulations governing the payment of monetary benefits.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for gout, PTSD, right knee disability, left knee disability, erectile dysfunction, and higher ratings for lumbar spine disability, radiculopathy of the lower extremities, and residuals of TBI have all been denied. The Board found that there was no evidence linking any current conditions to service.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, and OSA. The Veteran's claims were not granted as the evidence did not support a finding that his current conditions are related to service or any service-connected disability.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, specifically persistent depressive disorder, is granted as service connected.,PTSD was denied due to lack of diagnosis during the appeal period.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, should be remanded due to the need for a medical opinion applying DSM-V criteria and addressing the etiology of any diagnosed conditions.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not render him unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment prior to September 22, 2017.

The Board denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, finding that the Veteran did not meet the criteria for a diagnosis of PTSD and therefore could not establish service connection.

The Board denied an effective date prior to November 14, 2008 for the grant of a total disability rating based on individual unemployability due to service-connected disabilities (TDIU). The earliest indication of a TDIU claim in the Veteran's record was the November 2008 correspondence.