PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2021

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his fear of hostile military activity during his deployment in Vietnam. The Veteran already had service-connected nightmares, but this decision addresses whether he also has PTSD.

The Board has remanded the case for further development regarding an earlier effective date for TDIU and service connection for sleep apnea, including as secondary to PTSD. The Veteran's earnings from August 2018 to May 2019 need to be verified, and a new medical opinion is required to address whether his obesity caused or aggravated his sleep apnea.

The Veteran's son is seeking accrued benefits for the purpose of reimbursing expenses related to his mother's last sickness and burial. The VA has granted service connection for PTSD, but did not address the spouse's funeral expenses in the initial decision. The Board finds a duty to assist error and remands for adjudication of the surviving spouse's application.

The Veteran's appeal for an earlier effective date for the grant of a TDIU is denied as there was no service-connected disability prior to October 27, 2018. The rating decision that granted service connection for his bilateral knee TKAs effective October 27, 2018, became final.

The Veteran's claim for a TDIU has been reopened and readjudicated due to new evidence. The PTSD rating remains at 50 percent prior to February 13, 2020.

The Board denied the claim for an increased rating for PTSD, as no timely Notice of Disagreement was filed with respect to the August 2016 initial denial. The March 2021 claim is not considered a supplemental claim due to its timing relative to the effective date of the Appeals Modernization Act (AMA).

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and earlier effective dates for PTSD, tinnitus, sinus disorder, and deviated septum have been denied. The Board found that the correct date for the entitlement to service connection was June 13, 2017.

The Board has determined that the Veteran was a fugitive felon in New Hampshire from August 21, 2014 to February 29, 2016 and terminated his VA benefits during this period. The $52,936.13 debt is considered proper.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder and TDIU due to serious illness. The case will be reviewed with a focus on obtaining additional medical opinions regarding the Veteran's claimed psychiatric disorders, particularly PTSD.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for PTSD and bilateral hearing loss are remanded due to the need for updated VA examinations.

The Veteran's service-connected acquired psychiatric disorder with PTSD has rendered him unemployable, and the Board grants a TDIU on an extraschedular basis as of February 26, 2010.

The Veteran's sciatica of the left leg is rated at 20 percent, but does not meet the criteria for a higher rating.,Service connection claims for an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD and major depressive disorder), a left ankle disability, and a right leg disability (including right knee and right hip) are remanded due to incomplete information in the Veteran's service records.,The Veteran's left ankle disability and right leg disability (including right knee and right hip) remain unresolved as there is insufficient evidence regarding their etiology.

The Board has determined that discontinuance of VR&E services was proper due to the Veteran's lack of participation and unsatisfactory conduct, despite his service-connected PTSD.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for left ear hearing loss, right ear hearing loss, sleep disorder, and acquired psychiatric disorder. The evidence did not show a direct relationship between these conditions and his active-duty service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, finding that his current conditions are not related to his active service or any service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 10% prior to July 24, 2017 and 30% since that date.,The Veteran's migraine headaches are rated at 30% since July 31, 2017.,The Veteran's hypertension is not rated as it did not meet the criteria for a compensable rating.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinions regarding whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities caused or aggravated his obstructive sleep apnea, and specifically obesity. The Veteran needs a VA opinion on these issues.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence and need for further examination. The right shoulder disability claim is related to a reported injury during active duty, while the psychiatric disorder claim requires clarification on whether it was superimposed upon an existing personality disorder.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claim for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD and other specified trauma and stressor related disorder, due to incomplete verification of in-service stressors. The RO is instructed to verify the Veteran's reported stressors and determine if any units he was assigned to could have been in Thailand during his service.

Your claim for PTSD has already been granted and your rating is now at 50%. The Board dismissed the appeal as it was no longer necessary to address other issues.