PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's service-connected bilateral lower extremity neurological impairment results in the loss of use of both feet, qualifying him for SMC-L.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of hypertension and an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as depression and PTSD, diagnosed as anxiety disorder) due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent disabling from December 16, 2013. The effective date for the grant of TDIU has been set to October 1, 2011.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based upon individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to November 29, 2018 was denied as it was not factually ascertainable that he was unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation solely due to his service-connected disabilities alone before September 2017.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD, as well as for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD. The right knee and prostate disability claims are denied.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at a 70 percent rating, effective October 31, 2013. He also received a grant of TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities preventing him from engaging in substantially gainful employment.,Bilateral hearing loss was not found to warrant a compensable rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent effective February 2, 2021. The RO denied increased ratings for chronic sinusitis and GERD, but granted service connection for hypertension secondary to herbicide exposure and denied service connection for allergic rhinitis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a psychiatric disability, including PTSD, as there is no evidence that his current diagnoses meet the criteria for a DSM-5 diagnosis of PTSD or any other psychiatric condition. The Board found that the Veteran did not have a current diagnosis of PTSD and that his depressive disorder began after separation from service.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from securing or maintaining substantially gainful employment.

The Veteran's claim for residuals of hypothermia is denied as there are no credible in-service incidents or current symptoms related to service.,The Veteran's claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder (claimed as PTSD and depression), TBI residuals, migraine headaches, left shin disorder, and right shin disorder are remanded due to the need for further medical evaluation and opinion regarding their etiology.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD, loss of teeth, a rating in excess of 50 percent for mood disorder, DMII, and bilateral CTS due to potential overlap with other diagnosed conditions and need for further examination.

The Board has decided that the Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD should be remanded due to conflicting medical evidence regarding whether the Veteran meets the diagnostic criteria for a mental disorder under the DSM-5 criteria, including PTSD. The Board requires additional VA and private treatment records and an examination with a VA psychiatrist or psychologist.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted, and a 70 percent rating for other specified trauma and stressor related disorder is granted. The case is remanded to determine if the Veteran should be assigned a higher rating.

The Veteran's petition to reopen the previously denied claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder is granted. The Board also remanded the case due to incomplete VA treatment records and the need for a VA examination.

The Board has remanded the cases due to errors in addressing the Veteran's complaints of irritated, dry, and red eyes for his eye disorder and the need to provide notice concerning the types of evidence that might corroborate his reported in-service personal assault stressor as required under 38 C.F.R. § 3.304(f)(5) for his acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD with MDD, diabetes mellitus type II, and malaria residuals prevent him from obtaining and maintaining substantially gainful employment since February 11, 2019. The Board grants the TDIU claim for these conditions.

The Veteran's claim for increased disability ratings for PTSD is being remanded due to the need for additional development of his treatment records from Reboot Recovery.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed for the Veteran's claims regarding his right knee disability, PTSD, and TDIU prior to February 1, 2017. The claims are being remanded for further action.

The Veteran's PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment, but not total impairment. The Veteran's migraine headaches are not service-connected due to lack of evidence linking them to his service or a service-connected condition. Service connection for BPH is remanded as the examiner did not address the in-service prostatitis.

The Board denied service connection for hepatitis C, laparoscopic hernia repair, PTSD, and liver cancer as secondary to hepatitis C due to a lack of evidence showing these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.