PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2021

The Board has determined that the Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, MDD, and AUD, pre-existed service and were not aggravated by service. Therefore, the claim for service connection is denied.

The Veteran's low back disability is granted service connection. Increased ratings are granted for left and right knee disabilities, with a total rating based on individual unemployability due to PTSD also being granted.

The Veteran's claim for increased ratings for PTSD is remanded due to the lack of a Supplemental Statement of the Case (SSOC) addressing the period from June 29, 2010 to October 22, 2015 and the issue of entitlement to TDIU prior to August 18, 2017.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 100 percent from March 20, 2014 to August 11, 2020.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to a failure to obtain private treatment records, and will address these issues once VA receives the Veteran's completed forms.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development and an addendum examination to address the Veteran's lay statements regarding his PTSD symptoms and employment records.

The Board has reopened the claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and a right arm disability due to new evidence submitted by the Veteran.,VA will need to provide examinations and obtain medical opinions regarding the nature of the acquired psychiatric disability and the right arm disability, as well as review any outstanding private treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient examination and incomplete medical records, particularly regarding PTSD. The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorders are being reviewed for service connection.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of hypertension and PTSD as secondary to hypertension. The evidence did not support a finding that his hypertension was related to active duty service or a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and erectile dysfunction are remanded due to the need for additional medical opinions.

The Board has remanded the case for further development due to conflicting medical opinions regarding the impact of PTSD on the Veteran's occupational functioning from August 2005 to March 14, 2011. The effective dates for the ratings are also being reviewed.

The Board has granted the Veteran's request to recognize J.T. as a helpless child, finding that he was permanently incapable of self-support prior to attaining the age of 18 due to his disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD is granted as service-connected. The claims for hypertension and bilateral hearing loss are remanded.

The Board has granted a TDIU for the period prior to March 22, 2018 due to unemployability caused by service-connected PTSD and major depressive disorder.

The Veteran's PTSD was rated at 30% prior to March 7, 2017 and granted a 70% rating from March 7, 2017 to October 16, 2020.

The Veteran's service-connected PTSD, previously rated as schizophrenia undifferentiated type, is granted a 100% disability rating from July 22, 1971. The issue of entitlement to a total disability rating based on individual unemployability prior to December 16, 1972 is rendered moot by the grant of a 100% PTSD rating.

The Veteran's claim for SMC based on the need for aid and attendance or housebound status was denied. The Board found that the Veteran did not require regular aid and attendance from another person, nor did he meet the criteria for being housebound due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has granted the Veteran's petition to reopen his claim for service connection for hypertension and has also determined that his hypertension is secondary to his service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied service connection for PTSD, an acquired psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, tremors of the left hand, and tremors of the right hand as there was no credible supporting evidence that the claimed in-service stressors occurred.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a psychiatric disability, including Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Anxiety, and Depression is being remanded due to the need for additional examination.