PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2021

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need to determine if he served within 12 nautical miles of Vietnam, which would allow him to receive the presumption of exposure to herbicide agents. If so, an examination will be scheduled to determine the nature and etiology of any hypertension condition.

The Board has decided to remand the cases of increased rating for PTSD and TDIU due to new evidence received since the last statement of the case.

The Veteran's acquired psychiatric disorder, including depression and PTSD, is related to his service-connected disabilities. The claim for obstructive sleep apnea secondary to an acquired psychiatric disorder is remanded.

The Veteran's claim for PTSD was denied as there is no evidence of a current diagnosis.,Claims for an acquired psychiatric disability other than PTSD, glaucoma, and hypertensive retinopathy were also denied due to lack of competent evidence linking these conditions to service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for special monthly compensation (SMC) based on loss of use of both lower extremities, finding that his paraplegia is not related to his service-connected alcohol use disorder and he does not have a service-connected knee disability or paraplegia. The preponderance of evidence supports denying SMC.

The Board has denied service connection for PTSD and remanded the issue of service connection for a psychiatric disorder other than PTSD, to include Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), to include as secondary to the service-connected right knee disability.

The Veteran's service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder and anemia have been granted. The increased rating claim for facial eczema with acne has been remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for right hip DJD and trochanteric bursitis, left knee DJD, and PTSD. The Veteran's current disabilities are related to injuries sustained during service.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for an SOC addressing the Veteran's claims of earlier effective dates for service connection and TDIU. The issues are related as they both involve the grant of service connection.

The Veteran withdrew his claim for service connection for PTSD, including as due to military sexual trauma.

The Board has remanded the case due to the need for additional development, including verifying a claimed personal assault in service and obtaining an updated VA examination.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from following or maintaining a substantially gainful occupation prior to November 17, 2016.

The Board has determined that a remand is necessary to obtain an updated medical opinion regarding the Veteran's claimed acquired psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, depressive disorder, and alcohol dependence disorder. The current examination did not consider recent evidence and records.

The Board previously denied the claim for service connection for the Veteran's cause of death due to suicide. The Court vacated this decision and remanded the case, requiring a new VA medical opinion on whether PTSD existed as a result of service and if it contributed to the Veteran's death.

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and TDIU have been dismissed due to his death. The Board has no jurisdiction to adjudicate the merits of these claims as he died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's appeal for a higher rating for diabetes mellitus was denied. The Board found that the Veteran’s diabetes required only restricted diet and an oral glycemic agent, not daily insulin injections or regulation of activities.,Service connection for glioblastoma multiforme was also denied as there is no evidence linking it to service or herbicide exposure in Vietnam.,The claims to reopen service connection for cholelithiasis, vision loss, PTSD, and a skin rash were remanded due to the Veteran's death. The appellant will have an opportunity to appeal these issues.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not preclude him from securing and maintaining a substantially gainful occupation during the period on appeal prior to May 4, 2017.

The Board has remanded the claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, sleep apnea, and PTSD due to new evidence and procedural issues.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for PTSD and chronic ulcers due to insufficient evidence. The Veteran must provide more information about his claimed stressors, and an updated VA opinion is needed.

The Veteran's lumbar spine strain and acquired psychiatric disorder are not rated higher than the current 10 percent levels.