PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) decisions — 2021

The Veteran withdrew his claim for service connection for diabetes mellitus, type II. The Board also remanded the issues of a disability rating in excess of 10 percent for right lower extremity varicose veins, left lower extremity varicose veins, and PTSD.

The Veteran's diagnosed psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, persistent depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder, are related to his active service. His claim for service connection is granted.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD, major depressive disorder, and alcohol use disorder was granted with an effective date of February 1, 2012. The initial evaluation assigned was 70%.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for right ear hearing loss is denied as he does not have a current disability. The issue of service connection for an acquired psychiatric disorder, to include PTSD, anxiety, and depression, is remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Veteran's PTSD, right eye disorder, and lumbar spine disability were denied. The claim for a TDIU was granted.

The Veteran withdrew her appeal for service connection for PTSD, which was secondary to an already service-connected condition (unspecified anxiety disorder with insomnia disorder). The Board dismissed the issue.

The Veteran's PTSD with depression is rated at 100 percent since February 1, 2015.,Service connection for bilateral hearing loss has been established.

The Veteran's claim for a total disability rating based on individual unemployability (TDIU) prior to June 2, 2014 was dismissed as moot because the benefit has been granted and implemented with an effective date of February 11, 2013.

The Veteran's prostate cancer was denied service connection as it manifested more than one year after separation and is not shown to be causally related to an in-service injury or disease. The claims for psychiatric, heart, cervical spine, low back, bilateral shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, ankle, and foot disabilities are remanded due to the failure to obtain examinations and opinions concerning their etiology.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 70% and denied a higher rating. The Veteran's squamous cell carcinoma of the right tonsil is not service-connected.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for PTSD was granted. The rating for his chronic lumbosacral strain was reduced from 20% to 10%, but the Board found this reduction improper and restored the original 20% rating.

The Veteran's PTSD is rated at 50 percent, and the Board has granted an initial rating of 70 percent for PTSD, which meets the criteria for this level of impairment.

The Board has dismissed the appeal of the reasonableness of attorney fees from past-due benefits awarded in a December 2019 rating decision that granted service connection for PTSD.

The Veteran's diabetes does not require regulation of activities.,PTSD symptoms do not meet the criteria for a 50% rating.

The Board has denied service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability, including PTSD, Adjustment Disorder with Mixed Anxiety and Depressed Mood, and Alcohol Use Disorder. The evidence does not support a diagnosis of PTSD or a link between the adjustment disorder and active-duty service. Service connection was also denied for alcohol use disorder as it is not due to a service-connected disability.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 70 percent for PTSD was denied, and his claim for TDIU was also denied. The Veteran's service-connected PTSD resulted in occupational and social impairment with deficiencies in most areas.

The Veteran withdrew their appeal for an increased initial evaluation for PTSD, resulting in the dismissal of this case.

The Veteran's depression is granted as secondary to his service-connected PTSD. The reduction in ratings for bilateral lower extremity peripheral neuropathy was improper and the RO must restore them.

The Board has remanded the case due to an inadequate July 2020 VA medical opinion, which did not address whether the Veteran's service-connected disabilities aggravated his obesity. The examiner focused only on causation and did not consider aggravation.

The Board has granted service connection for PTSD, finding that the Veteran's symptoms are related to his in-service combat stressors and resolving reasonable doubt in favor of the Veteran.