PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claim for service connection for stress and anxiety was reopened, and the Board granted service connection for PTSD due to MST. The decision is mixed as it grants one issue but denies another.

The Veteran was granted a 70% disability rating for PTSD from December 14, 2011 to May 1, 2013. He is also granted entitlement to TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD is related to an in-service military sexual trauma, and the Board has granted service connection for this condition.

The Veteran's service connection for bilateral hearing loss is granted as his active service aggravated a pre-existing condition.,Service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, is denied as there is no current diagnosis.

The Board has denied a compensable rating for bilateral hearing loss and remanded the claim of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, including PTSD, MDD, and alcohol use disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent disabling, effective August 30, 2018. The rating reflects significant impairment in occupational and social functioning.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient development of vocational rehabilitation and functional capacity evaluations, which were not provided by a vocational rehabilitation counselor as directed in the previous August 2019 remand. The Veteran's service-connected conditions include posttraumatic stress disorder, right lower extremity radiculopathy, lumbosacral strain, right hip osteoarthritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and several other disabilities.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and other disabilities have rendered him unable to secure or follow a substantially gainful occupation, leading to the grant of TDIU from July 1, 2010. Additionally, he is eligible for SMC at the housebound rate due to his single 100% disability.

The Board has dismissed the Veteran's claims for service connection due to an erroneous report of his death.,The issues of service connection for PTSD, asbestosis, adjustment disorder, hypertension, bilateral eye disorder (including cataracts, arcus senilis, pinguecula, and refractive error), coronary artery disease, and dizziness are being remanded for further development.

The Veteran's claim for a higher disability rating for his service-connected PTSD is remanded due to outstanding treatment records not currently associated with the claims file.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include schizophrenia and PTSD, due to his active military service. The combat presumption is applied as evidence of in-service exposure.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70 percent, but no higher, effective from October 29, 2002. A TDIU was granted as of October 29, 2002.

The Board has denied service connection for seizure disorder and anxiety, but has remanded the claim of service connection for PTSD related to military sexual trauma. The case is being returned to the RO for further action.

The Veteran's sleep apnea is granted as secondary to his service-connected coronary artery disease.,For the period prior to September 16, 2019, the Veteran’s coronary artery disease was rated at 30 percent and has been increased to 60 percent.,Starting from September 16, 2019, the Veteran's coronary artery disease is rated at 60 percent.,The Veteran's hypertension remains denied as there is no evidence of exposure to Agent Orange or secondary service connection to PTSD or diabetes mellitus.,The Veteran's GERD has been granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD and/or diabetes mellitus.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the merits have been dismissed due to withdrawal of appeal. The claims for reopening were granted, and new evidence was submitted in support of these claims.

The Veteran's appeals for service connection on the merits have been dismissed due to their death.

The Veteran's increased PTSD and other specified trauma disorder have been remanded for a new VA examination to assess the current severity of his service-connected psychiatric disability.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for PTSD has been dismissed due to the death of the Veteran.

The Board has remanded the case due to new evidence received after the January 2020 statement of the case. The Veteran was offered an opportunity to waive AOJ consideration but did not respond.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD and prostatic hypertrophy and urinary infection contributed to his death from hypertensive cardiovascular disease, resulting in a grant of service connection for the cause of death.